Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 18, 2025: Houshang Fathi and Siamand Saadati, two men on death row for drug-related offences, were executed in Sari Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Sari Central Prison on 16 August 2025. Their identities have been established as 30-year-old Houshang Fathi (photo) and 41-year-old Siamand Saadati.
Houshang was arrested three years ago and Siamand was arrested for carrying 130 kilograms of unknown narcotics. They were both sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
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 347 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first seven months of 2025.