Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 31 July 2026: Eshagh Sistani, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Ferdows Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Ferdows Prison, South Khorasan province, on 27 July 2026. His identity has been established as Eshagh Sistani, a 40-year-old father of five from Sarkhas. He was arrested seven years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Eshagh was a lorry driver accused of transporting 1.5 tonnes of drugs that officers discovered and seized from him en route to Birjand.”
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.
