Iran has executed at least 20 Afghan nationals in various prisons since the beginning of 2026, according to the Iranian Human Rights Organization (IHR).
The rights group disclosed the figures on Saturday, August 29, saying that at least one Afghan national had been executed in Iran every month from January through August. It also reported that at least three Afghan nationals were sentenced to death each month during the same period.
The executions were linked to a range of charges, including drug-related offenses, murder, alleged espionage on behalf of Israel, and participation in anti-government protests.
The organization expressed concern over a lack of transparency in the death penalty cases. It said defendants had limited access to lawyers and that there were serious shortcomings in judicial proceedings. Families of those sentenced to death were also reportedly given limited information about their relatives’ cases and conditions.
According to the report, most of the executions were carried out at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Taybad Prison, Yazd Prison and Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
Drug-related offenses accounted for the largest share of the death sentences, the organization said.
Among those sentenced to death were Gul Mohammad and Qaim Hosseini, who were convicted over their participation in anti-government protests at Alikhani Square in Isfahan in January this year.
Three other Afghan nationals—Afsar Shah-Ahmadi, Safai and Sadruddin Ahmadzadeh—were sentenced to death in July over allegations that they were involved in the burning of a police station.
The rights group said many of the executions were not publicly announced, making it difficult to determine the exact number of Afghan nationals executed by Iranian authorities.
Iran executed 85 Afghan nationals in 2025, according to the organization.
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