Iran | Executions in Zahedan, Qom, Sabzevar, Markazi province, Neyshabur, Khorramabad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 19, 2025: Ebrahim Narouyi and Majid Faramarzi, two Baluch men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two Baluch men were hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on 19 May 2025. Their identities have been established as 24-year-old Ebrahim Narouyi from Zahedan and 26-year-old Majid Faramarzi from Zahedan.

They were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder in separate cases.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Ebrahim Narouyi was a father to four children. He was arrested around three years ago. Majid had two sons and had been on death row for around two years.”

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.

Execution in Qom

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 19, 2025: Alireza Gholibeigi, a man on death row for the honour killing of his cousin, was executed by his uncle in Qom Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Qom Central Prison on 19 May 2025. His identity has been established as 33-year-old Alireza Gholibeigi who was arrested for the honour killing of his cousin (maternal uncle’s son) four years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

Alireza was physically hanged by his uncle who was the plaintiff in the case.

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

Execution in Markazi province

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 19, 2025: State media reported the execution of an unnamed foreign national for rape charges in an unspecified Markazi province prison.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), a man was hanged in an unspecified Markazi province prison on 19 May 2025. The unnamed man was an foreign national and on death row 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.

Execution Sabzevar

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 19, 2025: State media reported the execution of an unnamed man for murder in Sabzevar Prison.

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), a man was hanged in Sabzevar Prison on 18 May 2025. The man only identified as the “Jaghatayi killer,” allegedly murdered his ex-wife around two years ago after she remarried. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

Execution in Neyshabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 18, 2025: Asghar Baghbani, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Neyshabur Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Neyshabur Prison on 18 May 2025. His identity has been established as 29-year-old Asghar Baghbani from a village in Neyshabur.

He was arrested for an alleged murder in a dispute over irrigation of agricultural land 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 in Iran.

Execution in Khorramabad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 18, 2025: Mohammad Vali Ahangari, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Khorramabad Central Prison on 17 May 2025. His identity has been established as 27-year-old Mohammad Vali Ahangari from Aligudarz.

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.

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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 18-19, 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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