Mehdi Zeinali Executed in Group Hanging of 5 in Mashhad

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Mashhad (Vakil Abad) Central Prison on 30 April 2025. His identity has been established as Mehdi Zeinali, a 40-year-old Birjand native who lived in Aliabad-e Katul, Golestan province.

He was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Four Baluch men named Javid Galehbacheh, Abdolghafar Barahouyi, Parviz Dastkaleh and Abdolsamad Gorgij were previously reported to have been executed at the prison that day.

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. In the first four months of 2025, at least 169 people were hanged for drug-related offences.