Ali Akbar Ansari Hanged for Drug Offences in Isfahan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 14 May 2025. His identity has been established as Ali Akbar Ansari from Kashmar who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Ali Akbar worked at a tailor’s. He was the sole breadwinner of his family as his father was disabled. One of his customers told him he could earn a high amount and Ali Akbar accepted. He was executed for a few kilograms of drugs.”

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

With Ashraf Shahbazi’s previously reported execution, two people were hanged 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.