Iran | Executions in Yasuj, Isfahan, Tabriz, Gorgan, Shahroud

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 12, 2025: Rasoul Rezayi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Yasuj Central Prison. With Ashraf Shahbazi’s previously reported hanging, two people were executed at the prison that day.

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 Rasoul Rezayi who 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.

With Ashraf Shahbazi’s previously reported execution, two people were hanged at the prison that day.

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 Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 12, 2025: Mahmoud Hojatzadeh, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 12 May 2025. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Mahmoud Hojatzadeh from Torbat-e-Heidarieh.

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.

Executions in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 12, 2025: Payam Mokhtari, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison. With Hassan Saei’s previously reported hanging, two people were executed at the prison that day.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 6 May 2025. His identity has been established as Payam Mokhtari from Maragheh. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Payam Mokhtari was arrested on charges of murdering his friend four years ago.”

With Hassan Saei’s previously reported execution, two people were hanged at the prison that day.

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. Should the victim’s family choose execution, they are not only encouraged to attend, but also to physically carry out the execution themselves.

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.

Executions in Gorgan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 12, 2025: Mahboubeh Khosronejad, Firouz Aliari and Safa Gharehdashi, a woman and two men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman and two men were hanged in Gorgan Central Prison on 12 May 2025. Their identities have been established as Mahboubeh Khosronejad, 28-year-old Firouz (Erfan) Aliari from Gorgan and 26-year-old Safa Gharehdashi from Aqqla.

They were all sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for separate murders by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mahboubeh Khosronejad was arrested for the murder of her (male paternal) cousin five years ago. Erfan Aliari and Safa Gharehdashi were on death row for four years.”

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

Execution in Shahroud

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 12, 2025: State media reported the execution of an unnamed man for rape charges at an unspecified prison in Shahroud.

According to the Judiciary’s Mizan news agency, a man was hanged on 6 May 2025. The report does not specify the man’s identity, place or date of execution. He was sentenced to death for the rape of a woman.

In cases of rape, there is a high chance of defendants being tortured to make false confessions, which is used to issue death sentences. Iran is one of the few countries in the world that issues the death penalty for rape. A lot of cases are also rushed without the defendants having access to a lawyer.

According to the 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 22 people were executed for rape charges across 10 prisons. In the first four months of 2025, at least nine people were executed for rape charges.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 12, 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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