20 Afghan nationals executed in Iran this year, rights groups report

An Amu review of reports by Iranian human rights organizations found that at least 20 Afghan citizens have been executed in Iranian prisons since the beginning of 2026, amid concerns over access to lawyers, fair trials and a lack of transparency surrounding executions.

The figures show that the executions were carried out between Jan. 1 and Aug. 28. At least one was executed in August, while several others have recently been sentenced to death.

Most of the documented executions took place at Shiraz Central Prison, also known as Adelabad Prison, as well as prisons in Taybad, Yazd and Dastgerd in Isfahan, according to the reports.

Drug-related offenses accounted for many of the cases. Other Afghans were executed or sentenced to death on charges including murder, espionage for Israel and involvement in anti-government protests.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding executions in Iran, including defendants’ access to lawyers, the fairness of judicial proceedings and whether families are informed about cases and executions. Rights groups say many executions in Iran are carried out without official announcements.

Among the latest cases are Gul Mohammad Mohammadi and Qaim Hussaini, two cousins who were tried and sentenced to death in Isfahan in connection with a case known as the Alikhani Square case.

The case has been linked to anti-government protests in Iran in the Iranian month of Dey 1404, which falls across December 2025 and January 2026.

Separately, three Afghan citizens were sentenced to death in July, according to reports by Iran Human Rights and Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

The three — Afshar Shah Ahmadi, Iman Shafiei and Sadruddin Ahmadzadeh — were sentenced to death on charges of participating in the burning of a police station, the organizations reported.

The cases have heightened concerns among human rights advocates not only about the use of capital punishment but also about whether Afghan defendants have meaningful access to legal representation, whether their families receive information about judicial proceedings and whether defendants are able to effectively defend themselves.

Qasim Homan, a former judge, and Wahida Rahmati, a human rights activist, also raised concerns about the cases and the treatment of Afghan defendants.

The executions come after rights groups reported a significantly higher number of Afghans put to death in Iran last year. According to figures from Hengaw, at least 85 Afghan citizens were executed in Iran in 2025.

Taliban authorities have not publicly announced any measures in response to the continuing executions.