3 Men Hanged for Murder and Drug Offences in Zanjan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were hanged in Zanjan Central Prison on 21 May 2025. Two of the men who were on death row for drug-related offences, have been identified as 40-year-old Ali Moharami from Zanjan and 35-year-old Kavous Golashan from Ahar. They were arrested in separate cases three years ago.

The third man’s identity has been established as Mohsen Hesari who was arrested five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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.