Execution of Four Prisoners, Including a Baluch Citizen and Two Afghan Nationals, in Ghezel Hesar Prison

According to information received by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), on the morning of Sunday, July 21, the execution of four men was carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. Two of these prisoners, identified as Davood Barahouyi and Mehdi Aliakbari Fard, were sentenced to death on "drug-related charges."

An informed source regarding the execution of these two prisoners told Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO): "Davood Barahouyi was a Baluch citizen from Zahedan and a father of eight children. Mehdi Aliakbari Fard was arrested on July 14, 2021, on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to death."

The identities of the two other prisoners, who were Afghan nationals sentenced to death for "premeditated murder," have not been confirmed at the time of this report.

The execution of these four prisoners has not been announced by Iranian domestic media or official sources at the time of this report.

The execution of prisoners on "drug-related charges" has seen a significant and continuous increase over the past four years. In 2023, compared to 2022, which saw 256 executions for drug-related charges, there was an 84% increase, with 471 executions recorded for such charges.