Secret Hanging of 3 Men for Armed Robbery in Shiraz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were hanged in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 8 January 2026. Their identities have been established as 24-year-old Asghar Kafashi and 22-year-old Shahin Bibak, both Amol natives, and 30-year-old Mohammad Malekizadeh from Shiraz.

Asghar and Shahin were arrested around a year ago and Mohammad, around two years ago. It appears that they were sentenced to moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery. Their executions were secretly carried out, depriving them of last family visits.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Article 279 of the IPC defines moharebeh (enmity against God) as: “drawing a weapon on the life, property or honour of the public or causing them terror, in a way that creates an environment of insecurity.” When a person draws a weapon on one or several specific individuals with personal motives, but their action does not have a public element, and also a person who draws a weapon on the public but does not create an atmosphere of insecurity due to their incompetence, they shall not be considered a mohareb (person who commits moharebeh).

Article 281 of the IPC stipulates that “bandits, robbers and smugglers who resort to arms and disrupt the security of the public and roads, shall be considered mohareb.”

Article 282 of the IPC sanctions the death penalty in cases of moharebeh. However, power is granted to judges to impose the alternative punishments of crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or domestic exile away from the defendant’s hometown.

Moharebeh charges are used to impose death sentences for a wide range of offences. They include armed robbery and espionage, and they have also been used against political prisoners affiliated with opposition groups, as well as protesters.