Prisoner Arsalan Moradi Executed in Birjand, Iran

According to Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Birjand Central Prison on April 12. His identity has been established as Arsalan Moradi, who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

An informed source told IHR: “Arsalan Moradi was arrested on drug charges two years ago and sentenced to death.”

According to Hengaw which first reported the news, Birjand prison officials did not allow him to have a last visit with his family.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been announced by domestic media or officials in Iran.

It has been almost four years since an Article was added to the Anti-Narcotics Law in 2017 to limit death sentences specifically and provide a general degree of reprieve in some cases. However, while the numbers reduced that year, the death penalty is still being used in drug-related cases.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 25 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2020.