Iran | Executions in Mahabad, Rasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 26 May 2026: Abdolghader Rasouli, a Kurdish man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Mahabad Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Mahabad Prison on 25 May 2026. His identity has been established as Abdolghader Rasouli, a Kurdish father of two from Mahabad.

He was arrested around four 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 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 795 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only 0.18% were announced by official sources. 13% of all drug-related executions in 2025 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.

Execution in Rasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 26 May 2026: Amirabbas Shekari, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 25 May 2026. His identity has been established as Amirabbas Shekari, a 29-year-old car mechanic from Rasht. He was arrested after a fight around three 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.

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 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 747 people including 48 women, were executed for murder charges, the highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Under 7% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2025, IHRNGO also recorded 566 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

Fifteenth January Protester Executed in 67 Days

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 25 May 2026: State media reported that Abbas Akbari Feizabadi, a protester arrested in connection with the protests on 8 and 9 January, was executed. He was accused of attacking the county hall.

Abbas Akbari is the fifteenth protester to be executed in relation to the January protests. At least 16 protesters, 13 political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups and 9 people accused of espionage and collaboration with foreign intelligence services, have been executed since 18 March. Hundreds of other protesters remain at risk of death penalty sentences and executions.

Condemning Abbas’ execution in the strongest terms, IHRNGO once again urges a strong reaction from the international community, in particular the European governments, and to make an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty a central condition in any negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the organisation, stated: “We reiterate once again that the primary purpose of these executions is to instill fear in society and prevent future protests. Due to its incompetence and lack of public legitimacy, the Islamic Republic relies on repression and intimidation to maintain power, and the death penalty remains its most important tool for spreading fear.”

He added: “Unfortunately, in the shadow of war, the political cost of executing protesters has been significantly reduced for the authorities, and over the past two months these executions have effectively carried no serious political consequences for the Islamic Republic. Unless the political cost of executions increases, we are likely to witness the continuation, and even escalation of daily executions in the weeks and months ahead.”

According to the judiciary’s Mizan News Agency, Abbas Akbari Feizabadi, a protester arrested in connection with the protests on 8 and 9 January, was executed at an undisclosed location on 25 May 2026. He was accused of being one of the leaders of the protests in Naeen, Isfahan Province, who "played a significant role in attacking the county hall."

Abbas was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God), "intentional destruction of public property with the intent to oppose the holy system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, disrupting public order and security, and assembly and collusion to commit offences against national security."

No independent information is available about Abbas's case, his name was only made public following his execution.

Abbas Akbari Feizabadi is the fifteenth protester to be executed in connection to the January protests since 19 March.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 25-26, 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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