Iran | Executions in Zahedan, Birjand, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Kashan, Isfahan, Neishabur

Iranian authorities secretly executed Elias Zeinoddini, a Baloch prisoner from Lashar County, at Zahedan Central Prison in mid-May. He had previously been sentenced to death on accusations of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “participation in premeditated murder” in connection with the killing of a law enforcement officer.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Elias Zeinoddini, 44, from Lashar County in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, was executed in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2026, at Zahedan Central Prison. He was denied a final visit with his family prior to the execution.

The Baloch human rights outlet Haalvsh reported that Zeinoddini was arrested eight years ago by Iranian government forces on accusations of involvement in an armed confrontation that resulted in the death of a member of the security forces. He was later sentenced to death twice by the Iranian judiciary: once on the accusation of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and once on the accusation of “participation in premeditated murder.”

The execution of this Baloch prisoner has not been announced by Iranian authorities or state-affiliated media.

Execution in Birjand

Iranian authorities secretly executed Mohammad Rashkan Chakerzehi, a 55-year-old Baloch man from Sarakhs in Razavi Khorasan Province, at Birjand Central Prison after he had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the execution was carried out in the early hours of Monday, May 5, 2026, at Birjand Central Prison in South Khorasan Province. Chakerzehi was a resident of Mashhad.

According to the Baloch news outlet Haalvsh, Chakerzehi was arrested in Birjand approximately two and a half years ago on drug-related charges and was later sentenced to death by the city’s Revolutionary Court. He was married and the father of one child.

Informed sources told Hengaw that the execution was carried out without prior notice to his family or lawyer. He was also denied a final visit with his family before the sentence was carried out.

The execution has not been announced by Iranian state media or by media outlets affiliated with the judiciary.

Execution in Sanandaj

Iranian authorities have executed Farhang Shekhala, a prisoner from Sanandaj (Sine), at the city’s Central Prison after he was sentenced to death on a “premeditated murder” charge.

Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that the execution was carried out in the early hours of Monday, May 25, 2026. Shekhala had been sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Iranian judiciary.

Informed sources told Hengaw that Shekhala, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by government forces four years ago in connection with the case that ultimately led to his death sentence.

Iranian state media and official judiciary outlets have not publicly announced the execution.

Executions in Kermanshah

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 29 May 2026: Saman Ebrahimi and Ali Shahbazi, two Kurdish men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Kermanshah Central Prison.

According to Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Kermanshah (Dizel Abad) Central Prison on 25 May 2026. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Saman Ebrahimi and 27-year-old Ali Shahbazi, both Kurdish minorities.

Ali was arrested around five years ago. They were both 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 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.

Executions in Kashan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 28 May 2026: Farhad Jalilvand, a man sentenced to death for drug-related offences, and Ali Bozorgi, a man on death row for murder, were executed in Kashan Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Kashan Prison on 27 April 2026. Their identities have been established as 30-year-old Farhad Jalilvand from Aligudarz and 28-year-old Ali Bozorgi from Kashan.

Farhad was arrested around three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Ali was arrested around four years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for a murder he is alleged to have committed at his workplace.

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 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.

Executions in Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 26 May 2026: Mojtaba Khosravi and Meisam Abdi, two co-defendants on death row for drug-related offences, were executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 27 May 2026. Their identities have been established as 42-year-old Mojtaba Khosravi and 38-year-old Meisam Abdi, two Torbat Heidarieh natives.

They were arrested in a joint case 21 months ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mojtaba and Meisam were arrested for carrying 27 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamines) and heroin. Mojtaba had one child. They were transferred to the gallows from Ward 4 of the prison.”

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

Execution in Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 28 May 2026: Jafar Sabouhi, 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 on 23 May 2026. His identity has been established as Jafar Sabouhi, a 40-year-old hairdresser and father of one. He was arrested around three years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Around three years ago, Jafar had got into an altercation with his wife. His mother-in-law had tried to break them up when she was struck in the head with his knife. She died at the scene and his wife sustained injuries.”

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

Execution in Marvdasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 27 May 2026: Milad Heidari, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Marvdasht Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Marvdasht Prison on 11 May 2026. His identity has been established as 36-year-old Milad Heidari. He was arrested around four 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.

Sources: HENGAW, Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 27-31, 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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