Iran | Executions in Zanjan, Arak, Semnan, Rasht, Shiraz, Sabzevar

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 24, 2025: Jahangir Fouladi, a Baluch man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Zanjan Central Prison on 24 July 2025. His identity has been established as Jahangir Fouladi, a 34-year-old father of one from Qazvin. He worked as a plumber prior to his arrest three years ago.

He was 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 six months of 2025, at least 293 people were executed for drug-related offences.

Execution in Arak

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 24, 2025: Mohammad Javad Zare, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Arak Central Prison.

According to HRANA News Agency, a man was hanged in Arak Central Prison on 21 July 2025. His identity has been established as Mohammad Javad Zare who was 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 Semnan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 24, 2025: Ruhollah Arab, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Semnan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Semnan Central Prison on 23 July 2025. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Ruhollah Arab from Semnan.

He was arrested five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

At the time of writing, his execution 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 six months of 2025, at least 268 people were executed for murder charges in Iran.

Execution in Rasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 23, 2025: Khodabakhsh Sepehri, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

According to HRANA News Agency, a man was hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 21 July 2025. His identity has been reported as Khodabakhsh Sepehri who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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

Execution in Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 23, 2025: Houshang Mahmoudian, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 23 July 2025. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Houshang Mahmoudian from Isfahan.

He was arrested four years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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

Execution in Sabzevar

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 22, 2025: Ali Joghatay, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Sabzevar Prison.

According to HRANA News Agency a man was hanged in Sabzevar Prison, Khorasan Razavi province, on 15 July 2025. His identity has been reported as Ali Joghatay who was 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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 22-24, 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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