Iran | Executions in Karaj, Yasuj, Rasht, Birjand, Shiraz, Kerman

Iran Human Rights (IHNRGO); May 8, 2025: Rouhollah Moradiani, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison, Karaj.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Ghezelhesar Prison, Alborz province, on 7 May 2025. His identity has been established as 49-year-old Rouhollah Moradiani from Kouhdasht.

He was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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. In the first four months of 2025, at least 169 people were hanged for drug-related offences.

Execution in Yasuj

Iran Human Rights (IHNRGO); May 9, 2025: Ashraf Shahbazi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Yasuj Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Yasuj Central Prison on 7 May 2025. His identity has been established as 51-year-old Ashraf Shahbazi.

He was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Execution in Rasht

Iran Human Rights (IHNRGO); May 9, 2025: Jafar Pourassadi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison, Gilan province, on 7 May 2025. His identity has been established as 54-year-old Jafar Pourassadi from Ramhormoz.

He was arrested for carrying more than 70 kilograms of heroin and shisheh (methamphetamine) two years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Group execution in Birjand

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 8, 2025: Seven men including four Baluch minorities and an Afghan national were secretly executed in a group hanging in Birjand Central Prison. Khosro Sarani, Mahmoud Sarani, Yousef Sarvarvash, Mousa Shokoohi, Alireza Laluzayi, Mojtaba Lakzayi and Ali Nouri were all on death row for drug-related offences.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, seven men were hanged in Birjand Central Prison, South Khorasan province, on 4 May 2025. Their identities have been established as Khosro Sarani, a 42-year-old Baluch father of two from the village of Deh Doust Mohammadi in Hirmand; Mahmoud Sarani (Rakhshani), a 41-year-old Baluch man from Sarani village; Yousef Sarvarvash, a 52-year-old Baluch father of four from Zahedan; Mousa Shokoohi, a 40-year-old Baluch man from Torbat Jam; Alireza Laluzayi, a 52-year-old Afghan national who lived in Mashhad; Mojtaba Lakzayi, a 34-year-old father of one from Zabol and 35-year-old Ali Nouri.

The seven men were all sentenced to death on drug-related charges in separate cases. Mahmoud, Yousef and Alireza were arrested three years ago and Khosro, four years ago.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “The seven prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions the day prior. Their executions were carried out without their families being notified."

At the time of writing, none of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Correction (9 May 2025): According to newly obtained information, Alireza Laluzayi was a Baluch minority and not an Afghan national. Mousa Shokoohi who was previously reported to have been a Baluch minority, was not. Thus, of the seven executions, four were Baluch minorities.

Two executed in Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 8, 2025: Mohsen Raisi and Ali (Arash) Shafiei, two men on death row for murder, were executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 5 May 2025. His identity has been established as Mohsen Raisi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Another man was hanged at the prison on 7 May. His identity has been established Ali (Arash) Shafiei who was arrested for murder four years ago.

At the time of writing, their executions have 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.

In the first four months of 2025, at least 153 people were executed for murder charges in Iran, per IHRNGO data.

Execution in Kerman

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 8, 2025: Saeed Shokoohi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Kerman Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Kerman Central Prison on 4 May 2025. His identity has been established as Saeed Shokoohi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 8-9, 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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