Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 10 February 2026: Naser Shahmoradi, Ahmad Borhani and Ali Mirdar, three men on death row for separate murders, were executed in Gorgan Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Gorgan Central Prison on 3 February 2026. Their identities have been established as Naser Shahmoradi, a 43-year-old father from Gorgan and 29-year-old Ahmad Borhani. Naser was arrested around six years ago and Ahmad was arrested for a murder during a street fight three years ago. They were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.
Furthermore, another man was hanged at the prison on 7 February. He has been identified as 32-year-old Ali Mirdar (photo) from Gonbad Kavous. He was arrested around three years ago and also sentenced to qisas for murder.
At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.
Crucially, while an indicative diya amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money. Should the victim’s family choose execution, they are not only encouraged to attend, but also to physically carry out the execution themselves.