At least 163 executed in Iranian prisons in May 2025

Hengaw – Sunday, June 1, 2025

At least 163 prisoners were executed in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran during May 2025—a sharp increase of 143% compared to the same period last year, when 67 executions were recorded.

The Statistics and Documents Centre of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has confirmed the identities of 157 executed prisoners, while the identities of six others are still under investigation.

Among those executed was a political prisoner, Pedram Madani from Tehran, who had been sentenced to death on charges of espionage for Israel.

At least five women were executed across various prisons: in Qazvin, Damghan, Gorgan, Shiraz, and Ghezel Hesar in Karaj (one case in each facility). Three of them were convicted of homicide, while two were sentenced for drug-related offenses.

One juvenile offender, Mohammadreza Sabzi, a 20-year-old from Malayer, was executed at the city’s central prison. He had been convicted of murder committed at the age of 16 and later sentenced to death.

Of the 163 executions carried out in May, only six were officially reported by Iranian state media or judiciary-affiliated websites. Additionally, four executions were conducted secretly, without prior notice to the families or the opportunity for a final visit.


Breakdown by national and ethnic minorities:

At least 26 Kurdish prisoners were executed, accounting for 16% of all cases in May. The executions also included 21 Lor, 20 Balochs, and 18 Turk prisoners.
            •          Fars (Persians): 48
            •          Kurds: 26
            •          Lors: 21
            •          Balochs: 20
            •          Turks: 18
            •          Arabs: 6
            •          Turkmens: 2
            •          Gilaks: 2
            •          Sistanis: 2
            •          Afghan nationals:  7
• Unidentified: 11


Breakdown by charges

The majority of those executed were convicted of homicide, followed closely by drug-related offenses:
            •          Homicide: 80 (49%)
            •          Drug-related crimes: 76
            •          Political charges: 1
            •          Rape: 6
            •          Armed robbery : 2
 

Breakdown of executions by provinces:

The highest number of executions occurred in prisons in Alborz Province, with 27 cases. In total, executions were carried out across 27 provinces, with Fars Province following behind with 14 cases.

•  Alborz: 27
            •          Fars: 14
            •          South Khorasan: 11
            •          Sistan and Baluchestan: 10
            •          Isfahan: 9
            •          Lorestan, Qom, Khuzestan: 8 each
            •          Yazd: 7
            •          Qazvin, Zanjan: 6 each
            •          Markazi, Kerman, East Azerbaijan: 5 each
            •          Hamedan, Kermanshah, Razavi Khorasan: 4 each
            •          Ilam, Hormozgan, Golestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Semnan: 3 each
            •          Gilan, West Azerbaijan (Urmia): 2 each
            •          Kurdistan (Sanandaj), Tehran, Bushehr: 1 each