Iman Bakhshayesh Executed in Rasht

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Rasht Central Prison on 9th October. His identity has been established as Iman Bakhshayesh from Bijarieh-Lahijan. 

An informed source told IHRNGO that Iman was arrested for drug-related offences about four years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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 2023 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 471 people were executed for drug-related charges, an 84% increase compared to 2022 (256) and about 18 times the average of drug-related executions in 2018-2020. At least 279 people were executed for the charges between January-9 October.

On 10 April 2024, 80+ Iranian and international organisations and groups called for joint action to stop drug-related executions, urging UNODC to make “any cooperation with the Islamic Republic contingent on a complete halt on drug-related executions.”