At least 152 executed in Iranian prisons in August 2025

Hengaw– Monday, September 1, 2025

At least 152 prisoners were executed in Iran during the month of August 2025, according to documented data from the Statistics and Documentation Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. This figure represents a 70% increase compared to August 2024, when 94 executions were recorded.

Hengaw has verified the full identities of 148 of those executed, while the identities of four others remain under review.

Among those executed in August were one political prisoner, Roozbeh Vadi from Tehran, convicted of “espionage for Israel,” and one religious prisoner, Mehdi Asgharzadeh from Javanrud, executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on charges of “membership in ISIS.”

At least five women were among those executed: Soudabeh from Isfahan, Mahsa Akbari from Shiraz, Banoo Moghadam from Abhar, and Maliheh Haqi from Tabriz—all executed on murder charges—as well as Mitra Yasamani from Ilam, executed in Shiraz on drug-related charges.

Hengaw’s report also confirms that six executions were carried out secretly without family notification or the chance of a final visit, while two executions were carried out in public in the cities of Beyram and Kordkuy.

Only five of the 152 executions were announced by Iranian state media or judiciary-affiliated outlets.

Breakdown by Ethnic/National Identity

At least 24 Kurdish prisoners were executed in August, accounting for 16% of the total executions. The executions also included 22 Lor prisoners, and 13 Baloch prisoners.
    •    Persian: 47
    •    Kurdish: 24
    •    Lor: 22
    •    Turk: 13
    •    Baloch: 11
    •    Arab: 6
    •    Gilak: 5
    •    Turkmen: 1
    •    Qashqai: 1
    •    Afghan nationals: 8
    •    Unverified: 14

Breakdown by Charges

The majority of executions in July were related to drug offenses, totaling 84 cases and accounting for 55% of all executions.
    •    Drug-related offenses: 84
    •    Premeditated murder: 64
    •    Political activity: 1
    •    Religious activity: 1
    •    Rape: 1
    •    Armed robbery: 1

Geographic distribution (by Province)

The highest number of executions was recorded in the prisons of Alborz Province, with 21 cases. Executions were carried out across 23 provinces. Following Alborz, the provinces with the highest numbers were Isfahan with 18 cases, and Fars with 13 cases.
    •    Alborz: 21
    •    Isfahan: 18
    •    Fars: 13
    •    Razavi Khorasan: 12
    •    Lorestan: 11
    •    Hormozgan: 7
    •    Hamadan, East Azerbaijan: 6 each
    •    Kermanshah (Kermashan), Golestan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad: 5 each
    •    Yazd, Markazi, Gilan, Sistan and Baluchestan: 4 each
    •    Kurdistan (Sanandaj), Kerman, South Khorasan, West Azerbaijan (Urmia), Semnan: 3 each
    •    Ilam, Zanjan: 2 each