Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 26 June 2026: Vahid Salimi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Qom Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Qom (Langroud) Central Prison on 15 June 2026. His identity has been established as Vahid Salimi, a 28-year-old man from Pakdasht.
He was arrested 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.
In December 2025, IHRNGO published a report titled “A Village of Graves: Widespread and Systematic Drug Executions in Iran,” which provides an overview of drug laws and documents the systematic violation of due process and fair trial rights in drug cases.