Hassan Mirzayi and Hossein Rafieinia Hanged in Zanjan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Zanjan Central Prison on 4 May 2025. His identity has been established as Hassan Mirazayi from Zanjan.

He was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

HRANA newsagency also reported the execution of another man at the prison on 29 April. His identity has been reported as Hossein Rafieinia who was 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.

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. In the first four months of 2025, at least 169 people were hanged for drug-related offences.