Iran | Executions in Birjand, Tabriz, Kerman, Dezful, Neishabur, Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 27, 2025: Asef Rakhshani, a Baluch man on death row for drug-related offences, was secretly executed in Birjand Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Birjand Central Prison on 26 August 2025. His identity has been established as Asef Rakhshani, a 29-year-old Baluch father of eight who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Asef Rakhshani was arrested on drug charges in Birjand around two years ago and had vehemently and consistently denied the charges. He was executed without his family being notified or a last family visit.”

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. At least 347 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first seven months of 2025.

Woman executed in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 26, 2025: Maliheh Haghi, a woman on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 26 August 2025. Her identity has been established as Maliheh Haghi, a 34-year-old Azeri Turk from Tabriz who was arrested for the murder of her cousin and fiancé six years ago. She was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

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

Maliheh Haghi is the 22nd woman execution recorded in 2025 and the 15th to be hanged for murder. Iran executes the highest number of women globally. In 2024, at least 31 women were executed for drug-related, murder and security-related charges in Iran, the highest number of recorded women executions in more than 15 years.

In January 2025, IHRNGO published a report titled “Women and the Death Penalty in Iran; a Gendered Perspective,” which sheds light on the contemporary experiences of women facing the death penalty, focusing on the discriminatory laws and societal factors that perpetuate their suffering.

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 seven months of 2025, at least 310 people were executed for murder charges in Iran.

Execution in Kerman

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 26, 2025: Safar Ali Keifari, a Kurdish man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Kerman Central Prison.

According to Hengaw human rights organisation, a man was hanged in Kerman Central Prison on 20 August 2025. His identity has been reported as Safar Ali Keifari from Kangavar, a Kurdish man sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Criminal Court.

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

Execution in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 26, 2025: Yashar Lejehi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to HRANA News Agency, a man was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison, on 20 August 2025. His identity has been reported as Yashar Lejehi 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.

Execution in Dezful

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 25, 2025: Abdolamir Hassangol, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Dezful Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Dezful Prison, Khuzestan province, on 21 August 2025. His identity has been established as Abdolamir Hassangol who was arrested five years ago and 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.

Execution in Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 25, 2025: Assad Shabani, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Neishabur Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Neishabur Prison, Khorasan Razavi province, on 25 August 2025. His identity has been established as 28-year-old Assad Shabani who was arrested for a murder during a street fight five years ago.

He was 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.

Group Hanging in Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 25, 2025: Abdol Sabzi, Shamsollah Kheiri and Mehdi Kazemi were executed for drug-related and murder charges in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 21 August 2025. Their identities have been established as 34-year-old Abdol Sabzi from Khorramabad, 27-year-old Shamsollah Kheiri, a ceramist from Ghaemshahr and 37-year-old Mehdi Kazemi from Falavarjan.

Abdol and Shamsollah were arrested around three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges in separate cases. Mehdi was arrested 11 years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, August 25-27, 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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