Iran | Executions in Esfarayen, Shiraz, Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 3, 2026: Ahad Mirzayi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Esfarayen Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Esfarayen Prison on 31 December 2025. His identity has been established as Ahad Mirzayi. 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. At least 697 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first eleven months of 2025.

Executions in Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 3, 2026: Khalil Rahmani, Fahim Rasoulzadeh and Asghar Shahi were executed for rape or armed robbery charges in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were hanged in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 3 January 2026. One of the men who was on death row for rape has been identified as 28-year-old Asghar Shahi from Isfahan. He was arrested two years ago.

The other two men were sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) through armed robbery. Their identities have been established as 30-year-old Khalil Rahmani from Hamedan and 26-year-old Fahim Rasoulzadeh from Kazeroun. Khalil was arrested three years ago and Fahim, around two years ago.

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

Article 279 of the IPC defines moharebeh (enmity against God) as: “drawing a weapon on the life, property or honour of the public or causing them terror, in a way that creates an environment of insecurity.” When a person draws a weapon on one or several specific individuals with personal motives, but their action does not have a public element, and also a person who draws a weapon on the public but does not create an atmosphere of insecurity due to their incompetence, they shall not be considered a mohareb (person who commits moharebeh).

Article 281 of the IPC stipulates that “bandits, robbers and smugglers who resort to arms and disrupt the security of the public and roads, shall be considered mohareb.”

Article 282 of the IPC sanctions the death penalty in cases of moharebeh. However, power is granted to judges to impose the alternative punishments of crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or domestic exile away from the defendant’s hometown.

Executions in Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 1, 2026: Yasin Azimi and Abbas Gholipour, two men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 31 December 2025. Their identities have been established as 30-year-old Yasin Azimi from Khomeini Shahr and 26-year-old Abbas Gholipour from Isfahan.

Yasin was arrested around four years ago and Abbas, around two years ago. 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 diya 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. At least 641 people were executed for murder charges in the first eleven months of 2025.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, January 1-3, 2026

"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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