Hanifeh Avandi, Akbar Molayi and Javad Abedi Hanged in Tabriz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 19 April. Her identity has been established as Hanifeh Abedi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for the murder of her husband.

An informed source told IHRNGO: When she was approximately 17 years old, Hanifeh Avandi was forced by her family into marrying a disabled man. About five years ago, after just eleven months of marriage, she murdered her husband, Amirreza. While in prison, Hanifeh suffered from mental health issues and was under medical supervision. The prison doctor, Dr Davari, even emphasised in his reports that she had been placed in an unjust situation and should not face the death penalty."

Investigations into Hanifeh's exact age at the time of the alleged offence are ongoing.

Furthermore, two men were hanged at the prison on 22 April. Their identities have been established as 38-year-old Akbar Molayi (photo) and Javad Abedi, a 41-year-old father of one. They were arrested for “transporting and possessing of 4 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamines) and heroine” three years ago and sentenced to death in a joint case.

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

Hanifeh Avandi is the fifth woman execution recorded in 2026. In 2025, at least 48 women were executed, the highest number of women executions recorded in Iran in more than two decades. Iran executes the highest recorded number of women globally.

In January 2025, IHRNGO published a report titled “Women and the Death Penalty in Iran; a Gendered Perspective,” which sheds light on the contemporary experiences of women facing the death penalty, focusing on the discriminatory laws and societal factors that perpetuate their suffering. 

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. According to IHRNGO’s 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 795 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only 0.18% were announced by official sources. 13% of all drug-related executions in 2025 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.