Mohmmadreza Mazkouhi Executed on Drug-related Charges in Zanjan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Zanjan Central Prison this morning. His identity has been established as 23-year-old Mohammadreza Mazkouhi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Iran Human Rights had warned of his imminent execution after he was informed that his execution was imminent.

Informed sources previously told Iran Human Rights: “Mohammadreza Mazkouhi was arrested on charges of drug possession along the Qazvin to Zanjan motorway with his cousin. Both Mohammadreza and his cousin were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court, but his cousin passed away from an illness in prison two years ago.”

At the time of writing, Mohammadreza’s execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

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. However, at least 109 people have so far been executed on the same charge in 2021.

On May 3, IHR published a report on the death penalty in the first four months of 2021 expressing concern at the significant increase in the number of drug-related executions and continues to warn of the continuation of this trend.