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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 3, 2025: At least 171 people were executed in August 2025, including five women, nine Afghan nationals, 18 Kurds, 14 Baluch and four Ahvazi Arabs. This figure is double that of the 84 executions recorded in September 2024.
Underscoring that more than 1000 people have been executed in the first nine months of the years, an unprecedented number in the last past 30 years, IHRNGO calls on the international community to respond appropriately to the mass killing of prisoners in Iran. Given the scale, systematic nature and political function of the executions to intimidate and create societal fear, the organisation previously called on the UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission to investigate them as crimes against humanity.
September 2025 Executions at a Glance:
- At least 171 were executed in September 2025
- Only 10 of the executions (under 6%) were reported by official sources
- 90 people (53%) were on death row for drug-related offences
- 71 people (46%) were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder
- Two individuals accused of “espionage for Israel” were executed on charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), while a “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester was executed on the charge of moharebeh
- 5 women were executed
- 18 Kurds, 14 Baluch and 4 Ahvazi Arabs were amongst those executed
- 9 Afghan nationals including a woman were executed
At least 1,042 executions were recorded in the first nine months of 2025, more than double compared to the same period in 2024 when 516 executions were recorded. Of the 1,042 executions, 517 were on death row for drug-related offences, 457 were sentenced to qisas for murder, 42 for the security-related charges of efsad-fil-arz, baghy (armed rebellion) and moharebeh, and 26 for rape charges. Of those, only 70 or less than 7% were announced by official sources.
29 women, 58 Afghan nationals, an Iraqi national and a man only referred to as a “foreign national” were amongst those executed. Eleven of those executed for security-related charges were accused of espionage for Israel, two political prisoners for their affiliation with banned opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and two protesters arrested in relation to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” nationwide protests. Seven of the executions were carried out in public spaces.
Espionage Defendants Executed in September:
Babak Shahbazi was arrested on 6 January 2024 and was forced to confess on camera to collaborating with Israel after authorities threatened to arrest his 16-year-old daughter. On 4 May 2025, Babak was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh and efsad-fil-arzby Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Salavati. Babak was denied access to the lawyer his family had hired prior to trial. The defence lawyer was also denied access to the case file. His death sentence was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court on 1 July 2025. An appeal filed on 2 August was rejected days later, the second appeal was rejected on 21 August and the third appeal was reported by his family to have been rejected on 16 September. Babak was hanged in Ghezelhesar Prison on 17 September. Post execution, his confessions were aired by state media who claimed his case was linked to that of Esmail Fekri.
The execution of Bahram Choobi Asl at an undisclosed location was reported by state media on 29 September 2025. He was sentenced to death on the charge of “efsad-fil-arz through espionage for Israel.” He was reportedly a specialist in database technology. No information about him was previously reported by state media or human rights organisations. After Bahram’s execution, his lawyer stated that a second appeal and stay of execution had been filed on 27 September and sent to the relevant authorities. Yet, Bahram Choobi Asl was transferred from Evin Prison without prior notice and executed.
Bahram Choobi was the eleventh man to be executed for espionage in 2025 and the ninth to be executed since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
Since 30 April, the Islamic Republic has executed Mohsen Langarneshin, Pedram Madani, Esmail Fekri, Majid Mosayebi, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, Rouzbeh Vadi and Babak Shahbazi.
Protesters Executed in September
Mehran Bahramian was arrested for participating in the 40th day commemoration ceremony of slain protesters Morad Bahramian and Ali Abbasi in Semirom. Videos published by state media show his torture-tainted confessions and the reconstruction of the alleged crime scene without presenting any evidence, including CCTV footage. Mehran and co-defendant Fazel Mehranian were accused of killing an IRGC member, and injuring others. Along with relative Fazel Bahramian, Mehran was sentenced to death on the charge of “moharebeh (enmity against god) through the use of a Kalashnikov and assault rifle” by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. The two protester’s families were also coerced into silence about the case. According to the official report, the Supreme Court overturned the sentence and referred the case back for retrial, “citing investigative deficiencies.” Ultimately, Mehran was resentenced to death at retrial, which was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Court also rejected an appeal thereafter. Mehran was hanged at an undisclosed location on 6 September.
Mehran was the 12th “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester executed. Mohsen Shekari, Majidreza Rahnavard, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, Saleh Mirhashemi, Saeed Yaghoubi, Majid Kazemi, Milad Zohrevand, Mohammad Ghobadlu and Reza Rasayi and Mojahed Kourkour are the other protesters previously executed in relation to the 2022 nationwide protests.
