Jafar Khoshkalam Hanged for Drug Offences in Rasht

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Rasht Central Prison on 9 July 2025. His identity has been established as 41-year-old Jafar Khoshkalam from Rasht who owned a boutique prior to his arrest two years ago. He was 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. In the first six months of 2025, at least 293 people were executed for drug-related offences.