Over the past week, Iranian authorities have carried out a wave of executions across multiple prisons in the country, executing at least 14 prisoners. The executions took place in prisons in Ahvaz (Sepidar), Kerman, Qorveh, Gonbad-e Kavus, Qezel-Hesar, Birjand, Bushehr, Mahabad, and Isfahan.
Executions in Sepidar, Kerman, and Qorveh Prisons
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, authorities executed Babak Hajipour in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz. The 49-year-old man, a native of Masjed Soleyman, was initially arrested in 1994 on murder charges but was acquitted and released after four years. However, he was re-arrested for the same case in 2014 and ultimately sentenced to death.
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Yousef Kovaroui was executed in Kerman Prison. He had been arrested four years ago on murder charges.
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, Naeem Abdi, a 22-year-old from Qorveh, was executed in Qorveh Prison. He had been detained two years ago on murder charges.
Execution in Gonbad-e Kavus Prison
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Milad Naseri, a 24-year-old man from the village of Zeinababad in Ramian County, was executed in Gonbad-e Kavus Prison. He had been convicted of murder.
Executions in Qezel-Hesar, Birjand, and Bushehr Prisons
At least six prisoners were executed in Qezel-Hesar, Birjand, and Bushehr prisons in recent days.
On Saturday, February 15, 2025, Abbas Bamari, a 46-year-old farmer from Pirvash Sofla village in Aq Qala, was executed in Birjand Prison. He was married and a father of three. He had been sentenced to death five years ago on drug-related charges.
On Friday, February 21, 2025, an unidentified prisoner was executed in Bushehr Prison. He had been sentenced to death one and a half years ago for a murder committed in Borazjan.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Aref Zoghfranlou, a 39-year-old from Quchan who resided in Malard, was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison. He had been convicted on drug-related charges along with two other prisoners, Mahmoud Barahouei and Hossein Sasani.
Executions in Mahabad, Isfahan, and Qezel-Hesar Prisons
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Mahmoud Barahouei, a 35-year-old from Zahedan, was executed in Qezel-Hesar Prison. He had been sentenced to death in 2021 for drug-related offenses. Hossein Sasani was also executed in the same prison under similar charges.
On the same day, two prisoners, Shahin Mahdavi Kia and Souran Aminpour, were executed in Mahabad Prison. Mahdavi Kia, 29, had been convicted of rape two years ago, while Aminpour had been sentenced to death for murder.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Rasoul Ashour, a 40-year-old resident of Isfahan, was executed in Isfahan Prison. He had been sentenced to death six years ago for murder.
The recent executions underscore the continued use of capital punishment in Iran despite growing international criticism. The lack of fair trial standards, forced confessions under duress, and the use of the death penalty for non-violent crimes remain key concerns among human rights advocates.
