Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 15 September 2026: Abdolrahim Narouyi, a Baluch minority, and Houshang Soltani were executed for drug-related offences in Isfahan Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 13 September 2026. His identity has been established as 37-year-old Houshang Soltani (right phot) from Bandar Langeh. He was sentenced to death to death on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Prior to his arrest three years ago, Houshang ran a children's clothing shop. He had purchased stock for the shop but was unable to sell it due to market stagnation. As the due dates approached for the cheques he had issued to buy the goods, heavy debt and financial pressure forced him to sell drugs. He was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death."
Another man was hanged at the prison the next day, on 14 September. He has been identified as Abdolrahim Narouyi, a 47-year-old father of nine from Zabol. He was arrested around eight years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.
At the time of writing, their executions have 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.