Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 29 August 2026: Ali Zibayi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Semnan Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Semnan Central Prison on 23 August 2026. His identity has been established as Ali Zibayi, a 48-year-old father of two and hairdresser.
He was arrested for carrying 9 kilograms of heroin over three years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Hamed Emami and Mohammad Ali Kafashi, bringing the number of people executed at the prison to three that day.
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.