Yahya Sobhani Hanged for Drug Offences in Sari

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Sari Central Prison on 3 May 2026. His identity has been established as Yahya Sobhani, a 44-year-old father of two from Sari. He was arrested around two 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.

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. According to IHRNGO’s 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 795 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only 0.18% were announced by official sources. 13% of all drug-related executions in 2025 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.