The Iranian regime carried out a shocking number of executions in May.
This increase in the number of executions comes at a time when popular protests are ongoing in several provinces.
In the face of growing societal discontent, the clerical regime has found the only way to preserve its rule by intensifying executions to intimidate society.
An investigation by Iran Human Rights Monitor in May found that at least 52 prisoners were hanged in various prisons. They include three women and two minors at the time of their crimes.
21 of those executed were charged with “drug-related” crimes.
None of these executions have been officially announced.
Another 30 executions were carried out for “premeditated murder” charges, and one was carried out for the charge of “moharebeh through armed robbery”.
Death by retribution is carried out on persons convicted of murder, regardless of their motives.
Of course, the figures cannot reflect the reality of what is happening inside Iran’s prisons. Considering the Iranian regime’s lack of transparency, which has deprived human rights activists of access to real statistics, the published figures must be regarded as a minimum and the actual number is definitely higher.



Shocking statistics
During a series of major revelations in May 2022, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) published extensive information obtained from the clerical regime’s judicial system, including the Prisons Organization.
According to the statistics registered by the office of the Prisons Organization, 5,197 people are on death row or sentenced to Qisas (retribution in kind). Of these, 1,366 are sentenced to death, including 39 women. Another 3,831 prisoners, including 144 women, have a sentence of Qisas or retribution in kind.
The documents also list the names of 51 persons, including 23 women, sentenced to death by stoning.
Some 48,559 of the detainees, are going through the “investigation phase” and held with “undecided” status by agencies such as the State Security Force (SSF) and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Based on this data, 17,190 prisoners have more than 15 years of sentence.
A new Amnesty International report dated May 24, 2022, noted the Iranian regime’s shocking record in carrying out death penalties.
Amnesty said at least 314 (or 54%) of the 579 registered executions in 18 countries in 2021 were carried out in Iran. The Amnesty International report also pointed out that with at least 314 executions registered in 2021, Iran tops the list of countries that use the death penalty. AI noted the actual numbers are probably higher.
According to the Amnesty International report, the Iranian regime violates children’s rights and tramples relevant international treaties. They have executed at least three convicts under 18 at the time of the crime.
Baluch and Kurd prisoners make up the largest number of execution victims in Iran. A Baluch woman was hanged in the Central Prison of Zahedan on May 7, 2022.
Executions on drug-related charges:
R | Name | Date of execution | Place of execution |
1 | Abolfazl Hassan Moradi | May 7, 2022 | Qom Central Prison |
2 | A woman | May 7, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
3 | Ghafour Hassanzehi | May 7, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
4 | Hadi Sargazi | May 7, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
5 | Mansour Shagazi | May 7, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
6 | Ali Pazhmordeh | May 8, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
7 | Abbas Pazhmordeh | May 8, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
8 | Mohammad Gholam Hosseini | May 8, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
9 | Ali Hossein Panah | May 8, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
10 | Khalil Rezaeipour | May 8, 2022 | Qom Central Prison |
11 | Ghobad Narouii | May 17, 2022 | Birjand Central Prison |
12 | Farshad Nematzadeh | May 18, 2022 | Amol Prison |
13 | Mehdi Shirchian | May 18, 2022 | Amol Prison |
14 | Eshaghi | May 18, 2022 | Amol Prison |
15 | Esmail Shahbakhsh | May 21, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
16 | Abdollah Barahuii | May 21, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
17 | Mossadegh Malahi | May 23, 2022 | Minab Prison |
18 | Abbas Kamali | May 23, 2022 | Minab Prison |
19 | Mohammad Sorkhru | May 23, 2022 | Minab Prison |
20 | Nader Gargij | May 28, 2022 | Nasrabad Zabol Prison |
21 | Allahnazar Esmailzehi | May 31, 2022 | Damghan Prison |
Executions on murder charges:
R | Name | Date of execution | Place of execution |
1 | Yousef Naderi | May 7, 2022 | Qom Central Prison |
2 | Ghobad Khodakarami | May 7, 2022 | Khorramabad Central Prison |
3 | Unidentified man | May 10, 2022 | Sabzevar Prison |
4 | Mostafa.Kh | May 11, 2022 | Mashhad Central Prison |
5 | Hossein Fartash | May 12, 2022 | Isfahan Dastgerd Prison |
6 | Mohammad Bameri | May 14, 2022 | Iranshahr Prison |
7 | Esmail Jahantigh | May 14, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
8 | Mansour Barahuii | May 14, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
9 | Farshad Gomshadzehi | May 14, 2022 | Zahedan Central Prison |
10 | Mehrab Salehi | May 15, 2022 | Yazd Central Prison |
11 | Ayat Ghasemi Delfani | May 18, 2022 | Karaj Central Prison |
12 | Ahmad Gashul | May 19, 2022 | Isfahan Dastgerd Prison |
13 | Abdolbari Rigi | May 22, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
14 | Hayati | May 22, 2022 | Adelabad Prison |
15 | Mohammad Morad Fazeli | May 22, 2022 | Shirvan Prison |
16 | Unidentified man | May 23, 2022 | Zanjan Central Prison |
17 | Ladan Mola Saeedi | May 25, 2022 | Qarchak Prison |
18 | Elias.Gh | May 25, 2022 | Mashhad Central Prison |
19 | Ramin Arab | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
20 | Abbas Bitarafan | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
21 | Gholam Hossein Zeinali | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
22 | Ali Nosrati | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
23 | Ali Montazeri | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
24 | Vahid Mianabadi | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
25 | Unidentified man | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
26 | Unidentified man | May 25, 2022 | Rajai Shahr Prison |
27 | Hamidollah Sahraii | May 25, 2022 | Chabahar Prison |
28 | Unidentified man | Saveh Prison | |
29 | Unidentified man | Rajai Shahr Prison | |
30 | Shahab | May 29, 2022 | Mashhad Central Prison |
31 | Unidentified man | May 29, 2022 | Karaj Central Prison |
Final word:
Iran Human Rights Monitor calls on the Secretary-General, the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Security Council, the European Union to bring the Iranian regime to justice for its gross human rights violations.
Iran HRM urges all human rights bodies and organizations to take urgent action to rescue death row prisoners. It also reiterates the need to refer the case of human rights abuses in Iran to the UN Security Council and hold the regime’s officials accountable for four decades of crimes against humanity.