Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); September 22, 2025: Behzad Nabavi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Birjand Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Birjand Central Prison on 26 August 2025. His identity has been established as Behzad Nabavi from Kerman.
He was arrested on the Shousef to Bijar route on charges of carrying shisheh (methamphetamine) two years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
His execution was carried out without his family being notified and the right to a last family visit.
At the time of writing, his execution has 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.