Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); September 8, 2025: Ahmad Rafiei and Abdolreza Karimi, two men on death row for drug-related offences, were executed in Arak Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Arak Central Prison on 7 September 2025. Their identities have been established as Ahmad Rafiei (right photo) and Abdolreza Karimi (left photo), two Arak natives.
They were arrested around six years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court in separate cases.
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 426 people were executed for drug-related offences in the first eight months of 2025.