Baloch prisoner Davood Lajai executed in Mashhad despite pending case review

Hengaw – Saturday, August 9, 2025

The death sentence of a Baloch prisoner, Davood Lajai, 36, from Salehabad in Razavi Khorasan province, was carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, on drug-related charges. The execution was conducted without granting him a final meeting with his family, despite his case still being under review and a new supervisory hearing having been scheduled.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the execution took place at dawn on Monday, August 4, 2025. It was carried out without prior notice to his family and without allowing a last visit—actions that violate the executive regulations of the Prisons Organization as well as fundamental human rights principles.

The Haalvsh website reported that this execution was carried out despite an official letter from the Mashhad Judiciary, dated January 6, 2025, confirming the existence of “ambiguities” in Lajai’s case. Furthermore, records in the official system of the Islamic Republic’s Judiciary indicated that a new date—November 18, 2025—had been set for “case supervision and follow-up.”

Lajai was arrested on August 14, 2022, in Mashhad and later sentenced to death on drug-related charges. However, according to official documents, his execution was implemented while his case remained unresolved and the review process was still ongoing.

State media, particularly outlets affiliated with the judiciary, have not reported his execution.