Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 15, 2022: Mohammad Mashhadolkoobeh, Vahid Mousakhani, a man only identified as Mr Hossein Abadi and a fourth unidentified man were executed for drug-related charges in Arak Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, four men were executed in Arak Central Prison on August 14. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Mohammad Mashhadolkoobeh (pictured left), 40-year-old Vahid Mousakhani, a 38-year-old man only identified as Mr Hossein Abadi and the fourth man’s identity has not been established. They were all sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.
Mohammad was arrested four years ago. Vahid who was arrested just two years ago, had a brother named Abolfazl Mousakhani who was also executed for drug-related charges at the same prison on 12 May 2015. Mr Hossein Abadi had been behind bars for around three years.
According to HRANA newsagency, the four men were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions in a group of six prisoners. The other two men were returned to their cells for unknown reason.
At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
According to reports compiled by Iran Human Rights, at least 126 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2021, a fivefold increase compared to drug executions in the previous three years. This trend has continued into 2022, with 91 executions recorded in the first six months of 2022, double the number for the same period in 2021 when 40 people were executed.
At least 251 including 6 women and 67 Baluch minorities were executed in the first six months of 2022. This is double the number of executions in the same period in 2021 when 117 people were executed.