Iran Human Rights (IHR); August 9, 2021: A Baluch prisoner named Zabiollah Hormozi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges has been executed in Mashhad Central Prison. At least 64 people have now been executed on drug charges in 2021.
According to the Baluch Activists Campaign, a Baluch men were executed on drug charges in Mashhad Central Prison today. His identity been established as Zahedan-native Zabiollah Hormozi, also known as Mehrollah Sanjarani.
He is reported to have been arrested 18 months ago on drug charges in Birjand and transferred to Mashhad Central Prison.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 25 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2020. However, at least 64 people have so far been executed on the same charge in 2021.
On May 3, IHR published a report on the death penalty in the first four months of 2021 expressing concern at the significant increase in the number of drug-related executions and continues to warn of the continuation of this trend.