On December 5, 2023, the Central Prison of Karaj carried out the execution of four inmates convicted of drug offenses.

HRANA has identified three of the executed inmates as Sasan Maleki, Mojtaba Amiri, and Manouchehr Nourabad (Barzgar). These individuals had been transferred to solitary confinement in anticipation of their impending executions. HRANA is actively working to identify the fourth inmate involved in the execution.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.