The Iranian government has executed five individuals, including two Afghan nationals, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.
The group reported on Tuesday, October 22, that at least four inmates, including one Afghan national, had been transferred to solitary confinement in Qezel Hesar Prison ahead of their executions.
The two Afghan citizens, identified as Shahin Dehqani and Abdul Qadir, were executed last Thursday in Qom Central Prison, following convictions for “premeditated murder,” the rights group said.
In addition, the organization noted that four men, including one Afghan citizen, have been moved to solitary confinement in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, where they await execution. These individuals were sentenced to death for a range of charges, including “premeditated murder” and drug-related offenses.
The executions come amid a sharp rise in the number of death sentences carried out in Iran, particularly for drug-related crimes. According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, the country has seen a significant increase in executions over the past four years.
In 2022, Iranian authorities reportedly executed 471 people on drug-related charges, an 84 percent increase compared to previous years. Rights groups have raised concerns about this surge in executions, calling for greater scrutiny of Iran’s use of the death penalty.
