TEHRAN — Iranian authorities have executed five individuals, including three Afghan nationals, on drug-related charges, according to the Iran-based human rights organization Hengaw.
The executions were carried out on Wednesday at Bandar Abbas Central Prison, Hengaw reported. Among those executed was Ramzi Beigsawar, a 25-year-old Afghan from the Babaryan tribe, who had been arrested three years ago and sentenced to death on charges of drug trafficking.
Hengaw noted a significant rise in executions related to drug offenses in Iran over the past four years. The organization reported that in 2023, at least 471 executions for drug-related offenses were documented, marking an 84 percent increase compared with 2022, when 256 such cases were recorded.
The sharp rise has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, which argue that Iran’s punitive approach disproportionately targets vulnerable individuals, including foreign nationals and members of marginalized communities.
Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world and continues to face widespread condemnation for its use of the death penalty, particularly in drug-related cases. Rights groups have repeatedly called on Tehran to impose a moratorium on executions and adopt more humane approaches to addressing drug-related crimes.
