Iran executes at least 20 Afghan nationals in eight months

Iran has executed at least 20 Afghan nationals between January and August this year, according to a report by the Iran Human Rights Organisation.

The rights group said in a report published Saturday (August 29) that at least one Afghan national was executed almost every month during the period. At least three other Afghan nationals were also sentenced to death.

The executions were carried out in several Iranian prisons, with most involving drug-related offences. Other charges included murder, alleged espionage for Israel and participation in anti-government protests.

The organisation raised concerns over the transparency of the trials, saying lawyers had limited access to defendants in several cases and families were often not adequately informed about the proceedings or the status of their relatives.

Most of the reported executions took place at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Taybad Prison, Yazd Prison and Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

Two Afghan nationals, Gul Mohammad and Qaim Hosseini, were sentenced to death over their alleged participation in anti-government protests at Alikhani Square in Isfahan in January. Three others—Afsar Shah-Ahmadi, Safai and Sadruddin Ahmadzad—were sentenced to death in July over allegations of involvement in the burning of a police station.

The rights group said many executions were not publicly announced, making it difficult to establish the exact number of Afghan nationals executed in Iran.

The report said Iran executed at least 85 Afghan nationals in 2025.