On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, two inmates, identified as Hossein Nasirian, 40, and Hassan Ali Shakib were executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

Nasirian’s conviction dates back three years, while Shakib’s dates back two years.

On the subsequent day, Wednesday, August 9, two more inmates faced execution in Hamedan Prison. Among them, Manuchehr Khazaie, who had been convicted on charges related to drug offenses, met his fate. The second inmate, Ahad Hashemi, whose identity was confirmed by Kurdpa, was also executed.

These executions bring renewed attention to the ongoing discussions surrounding the criminal justice system’s approach to drug-related crimes. In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded 457 reports concerning the death penalty. Approximately 43% of these executions were linked to drug-related charges.