Seven Afghan nationals executed in Iran
Human rights group Hengaw reports seven Afghan nationals were among 163 inmates executed in Iran during May, amid rising secret executions.
The human rights organization Hengaw has reported a sharp rise in executions in Iran, with 163 prisoners executed across various prisons during May 2025. Among those executed were at least seven Afghan nationals.
According to Hengaw’s newly published report, those executed faced a wide range of charges, including espionage for Israel, murder, drug trafficking, sexual assault, and armed robbery. The organization highlights growing concerns over the fairness of legal proceedings in such cases.
Notably, only six of the 163 executions were officially reported by Iranian state media or judiciary-affiliated sources. The remainder were carried out secretly, without public disclosure or independent verification, raising questions about transparency and due process.
The report also points to a dramatic 143% increase in executions compared to the same month last year. In May 2023, 67 individuals were reportedly executed, signaling an alarming upward trend in capital punishment.
Iran consistently ranks among the top countries globally for the number of executions carried out annually. Human rights organizations, including Hengaw—which monitors human rights in Iran’s Kurdish regions—have repeatedly criticized the Iranian government for conducting executions without proper legal safeguards or public accountability.
Observers warn that the surge in executions may be part of a broader campaign of repression, especially targeting ethnic minorities and foreign nationals. The opaque nature of Iran’s judicial system, coupled with limited media freedom, has made independent monitoring increasingly difficult.
International human rights advocates, including Amnesty International and the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, have called for greater transparency and a moratorium on executions, urging Iran to comply with international legal standards regarding fair trials and the death penalty.
The post Seven Afghan nationals executed in Iran appeared first on Khaama Press.