Asef Rakhshani Secretly Hanged for Drug Offences in Birjand

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Birjand Central Prison on 26 August 2025. His identity has been established as Asef Rakhshani, a 29-year-old Baluch father of eight who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Asef Rakhshani was arrested on drug charges in Birjand around two years ago and had vehemently and consistenly denied the charges. He was executed without his family being notified or a last family visit.”

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. At least 347 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first seven months of 2025.