An Iranian human rights group, Hengaw, reported that the Iranian government has executed an Afghan national on drug-related charges.
The man, identified as Mohammad Nabi Popalzi, was reportedly sentenced to death by the Iranian judiciary and executed on Sunday in Zahedan’s central prison.
Hengaw stated that Popalzi, 28, originally from Zabul province in Afghanistan, was arrested by Iranian authorities on charges of drug trafficking. According to the watchdog, he was moved to solitary confinement on Friday in preparation for the execution and had a final visit with his family on Tuesday.
The group noted a concerning rise in executions of Afghan nationals in Iran, reporting that around 50 Afghan citizens have been executed so far this year. This marks a substantial increase from 2022, when 16 Afghan nationals were reportedly executed in Iran.
Iran’s justice system has long been criticized by international human rights groups, who argue that due process and fair trial standards are often not upheld, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals and drug-related charges.
