Iran | Executions in Rasht, Aligudarz, Doroud, Semnan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 6, 2026: Mohsen Teimuri, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 6 January 2026. His identity has been established as 40-year-old Mohsen Teimuri from Rasht

He was arrested around two 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.

Execution in Aligudarz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 6, 2026: Kian Piri, a man on death row for murder charges, was executed in Aligudarz Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Aligudarz Prison on 20 December 2025. His identity has been established as 23-year-old Kian Piri from Aligudarz.

He was arrested at 19 around four years ago 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.

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.

Execution in Doroud

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 6, 2026: Amirreza Sarlak, a man on death row for murder charges, was executed in Doroud Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Doroud Prison on 5 January 2026. His identity has been established as 27-year-old Amirreza Sarlak from Doroud.

He was arrested around three years ago 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 Semnan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 5, 2026: Rostam Hariri, 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 5 January 2026. His identity has been established as 45-year-old Rostam Hariri.

He was arrested with his brother-in-law around three years ago and accused of carrying 45 kilograms of drugs. Rostam was sentence to death by the Semnan Revolutionary Court while his co-defendants received a ten-year custodial sentence.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, January 5-6, 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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