Iran | Executions in Isfahan, Shiraz, Yasuj, Semnan, Zahedan, Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 29, 2025: Mohammad Ali Lashari, a Baluch minority, and Hessam Dadkhah were executed for drug-related offences in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 27 August 2025. Their identities have been established as Mohammad Ali Lashari (photo), a 38-year-old Baluch father of three from Zahedan, and Hessam (Keyvan) Dadkhah from Najaf Abad in Isfahan.

Mohammad Ali was arrested seven years ago and Hessam was on death row for four years. They were both sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. Hessam was held in Najaf Abad Prison and transferred to Isfahan Central Prison for execution.

At the time of writing, their executions have 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.

Executions in Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 29, 2025: Hassan Safarian and Milad Mohammad Salehi, two men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 27 August 2025. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Hassan Safarian from the village of Karouni in Shiraz, and 32-year-old Milad Mohammad Salehi from Kashan.

Milad was arrested for an honour killing four years ago and Hassan was on death row for six years.

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

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

Execution in Yazuj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 29, 2025: Samad Seyed Hosseini, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Yasuj Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Yasuj Central Prison on 27 August 2025. His identity has been established as Samad Seyed Hosseini, a 46-year-old father of three from Yasuj who was arrested for the murder of his friend over financial disputes five years ago. He 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 Semnan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 29, 2025: Majid Abedi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Semnan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Semnan Central Prison on 27 August 2025. His identity has been established as Majid Abedi, a 35-year-old car mechanic arrested three years ago. He was sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Execution in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 28, 2025: Ahmad Dahani, a Baluch man on death row for murder, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on 26 August 2025. His identity has been established as Ahmad Dahani, a 26-year-old Baluch man from Mehrestan who was arrested for the murder of his maternal uncle around two years ago. He 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.

Group hanging of 7 at Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 28, 2025: Mashallah Nikufal, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was executed with six others.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison on 27 August 2025. His identity has been established as Mashallah Nikufal from Harsin who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

IHRNGO previously reported the group of hanging of six men, bringing the total number of executions to seven at the prison that day.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, August 28-29, 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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