4 Men Hanged in Isfahan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 11 May 2025. His identity has been established as Mohammad Amin Kolsoomi who was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Two other men were hanged at the prison on 14 May. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Jafar Ghorbani from Kashan and Mohammad Naeim Danesh (left photo), a 40-year-old Baluch man from Iranshahr county. Jafar was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder and Mohammad was on death row for drug-related offences.

Finally, another Baluch man was hanged at the prison on 21 May. His identity has been established as 38-year-old Jaber Shehkaramzehi (right photo) from Khash who was also on death row for drug-related offences.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Jafar Ghorbani was arrested four years ago for allegedly killing one of his relatives during a fight over financial debt. Mohammad Naeim was a father of one who was arrested seven years ago. He was executed without his family being notified or a last family visit. Jaber was arrested in Naein around seven years ago. He was transferred to solitary confinement on 19 May and had managed to let his family know. Apparently, his family were on their way to Isfahan and didn’t manage to make the last family visit.”

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