At least 122 prisoners executed in Iranian prisons in April 2025

Hengaw: Saturday, May 3, 2025

At least 122 prisoners were executed in prisons across the Islamic Republic of Iran during the past month. This figure marks a 59% increase—equivalent to 45 more executions—compared to April 2024, when 77 executions were recorded.

The Statistics and Documents Centre of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has confirmed the identities of 118 executed prisoners, while the identities of four others are still under investigation.

Among those executed were at least five religious activists—Abdolrahman Gorgij, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, and Taj Mohammad Khormaly from Aq Qala; Farhad Shakeri from Gonbad-e Kavus; and Malek Ali Fadaei—as well as three political prisoners: Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heidaranlu from Chaldoran, Rostam Zeynaldini from Lashar, and Mohsen Langarneshin from Nowshahr.

The report also notes that at least four women were executed—two each in the prisons of Mashhad and Isfahan. Three were convicted on drug-related charges, and one had been sentenced to death for murder. No executions of juvenile offenders (under the age of 18) were recorded in April.

It is worth highlighting that out of the 122 executions carried out in April, only three were reported by official Iranian sources or judiciary-affiliated websites. Additionally, the executions of seven prisoners were carried out secretly—without notifying their families or allowing a final visit.

Breakdown by national and ethnic minorities:

At least 32 Baloch prisoners were executed, accounting for 26% of all cases in April. The executions also included 15 Lor, 14 Kurdish, and 11 Turk prisoners.
• Baloch prisoners: 32
• Persian (Fars) prisoners: 23
• Lor prisoners: 15
• Kurdish prisoners: 14
• Turk prisoners: 11
• Gilak and Mazani prisoners: 5
• Turkmen prisoners: 3
• Arab prisoners: 3
• Afghan nationals: 6
• Unidentified: 10


Breakdown by charges

Drug-related offenses remained the leading cause of executions in April, with 58 people (47.5% of the total) executed on such charges.
• Drug-related crimes: 58
• Murder: 47
• Religious activism: 5
• Political activism: 3
• Rape: 1
• Same-sex assault (lavat be-onf): 1
• Armed robbery: 1


Breakdown of executions by provinces:

The highest number of executions occurred in prisons in Razavi Khorasan Province, with 21 cases. In total, executions were carried out across 23 provinces, with Alborz Province following closely behind with 20 cases.
• Razavi Khorasan: 21
• Alborz: 20
• Sistan and Baluchestan: 13
• Khuzestan: 8
• Isfahan: 6
• Qom, Fars, and East Azerbaijan: 5 each
• Lorestan and Markazi: 4 each
• Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Hamadan, Yazd, Golestan, and Qazvin: 3 each
• Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Kerman, Zanjan, Semnan, Bushehr, and West Azerbaijan (Urmia): 2 each
• Gilan: 1