Faramarz Keifari and Kourosh Zare Hanged in Rasht

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 16 March 2025. His identity has been established as Kourosh Zare, a 36-year-old father of two (photo) who was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Furthermore, HRANA news agency reported the execution of another man named Faramarz Keifari at the same prison on 25 February. He was also on death row for drug-related offences.

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.

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.”