Iran | Executions in Tabriz, Borazjan, Zahedan, Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 18, 2025: Shamseddin Fazli, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison. With Seifollah Nasiri’s previously reported execution, the number of executions at the prison has risen to two that day.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 9 April 2025. His identity has been established as 27-year-old Shamseddin Fazli who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Shamseddin was arrested three years ago on charges of murder after a group altercation in front of the Emamieh produce stand on Meraj boulevard. He was trying to separate the two people fighting when one of them was killed by stabbing. Everyone else ran away but Shamseddin refused to leave the injured man. That’s why he was the one arrested when police arrived on the scene and later sentenced to qisas in court. He took an oath twice in court that he was innocent but the court didn’t accept his defence, witnesses testified that he was the one that had stabbed the victim.”

IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Seifollah Nasiri at the prison that day.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Crucially, while an indicative amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money.

According to IHRNGO’s 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 419 people including a juvenile offender and 19 women, were executed for murder charges, the highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 12% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2024, Iran Human Rights also recorded 649 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

Execution in Borazjan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 18, 2025: Ahmad Boghlani, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Borazjan Prison.

According to HRANA news agency, a man was hanged in Borazjan Prison, Borazjan province, on 14 April 2025. His identity has been reported as Ahmad Boghlani who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. According to IHRNGO’s 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 503 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only under 3% were announced by official sources. 17% of all drug-related executions in 2024 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.

Execution in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 18, 2025: Ali Baluchzehi, a Baluch man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Haal Vsh, a man was hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on 14 April 2025. His identity has been reported as Ali Baluchzehi from Saravan. He was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Another Baluch man named Ali Dehani was previously reported to have been executed, bringing the total number of executions to two at the prison that day.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Group execution in Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 17, 2025: Ali Fazadoustiani, Sajad Yarmohammadi and Majid Rouhi were executed for drug-related offences in Karaj Penitentiary.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were hanged in Karaj Penitentiary (Central Prison) on 15 April 2025. Their identities have been established as Ali Fazadoustiani from Nour Abad, Sajad Yarmohammadi from Arestan and Majid Rouhi from Tehran.

Ali was arrested for possession of 13 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamines) five years ago, per informed sources. All three men were sentenced to death on drug-related charges in separate cases.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Execution in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 17, 2025: Seifollah Nasiri, a man on death row for murder, was executed Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 9 April 2025. His identity has been established as Seifollah Nasiri from the village of Hargalan in Easter Azerbaijan province.

He was arrested for an alleged murder during an altercation five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, April 17-18, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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