Mohammad Rafigh Galeh Bacheh and Massoud Nemati Secretly Hanged for Drug Offences in Arak

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Arak Central Prison on 15 October 2025. Their identities have been established as Mohammad Rafigh Galeh Bacheh (left photo), a Baluch father of two from Zahedan and Massoud Nemati (right photo) from Arak.

Mohammad was arrested on a transportation route in Arak around three years ago, and Massoud was arrested for possession of heroin three years ago. They were sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Both men were executed without prior notification, while Iranian law requires the defendant’s family or representative to be notified 48 hours prior to executions. Consequently, they were also deprived of the right to a last family visit.

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. At least 517 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first nine months of 2025.