Islamic Republic and a Concerning Record; Thousands of Executions in the Shadow of Officials’ Silence

While human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the dramatic increase in death sentences in Iran, reports indicate that at least three prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison in a single day. These executions occur as the Islamic Republic continues to maintain one of the highest rates of death penalty implementation in the world, with many human rights activists viewing this punishment as a tool for creating an atmosphere of terror and social control in the country.

According to reports released by human rights sources, early morning on Wednesday, June 27 (June 17), at least three prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison. Previously, news had been released about the execution of “Abdullah Jalali,” but supplementary reports indicate that two other prisoners also lost their lives due to the execution of death sentences on the same day.

One of these individuals was “Zaher Shahozayi” (Gorgiaj), a 40-year-old married man and father of three children from Zahedan. According to reports, he was arrested approximately three years ago on charges related to narcotics and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court following judicial proceedings.

Another prisoner was also executed in the same prison on non-political charges, but as of the time of the report’s publication, his identity had not been officially confirmed.

It is noteworthy that, like many similar cases, judicial authorities and officials of Zahedan Prison have so far issued no official announcement regarding these executions. The lack of transparency in the execution process and the refusal of government institutions to provide public information have always been among the main criticisms by human rights organizations of the Islamic Republic’s performance.

The recent executions occur as the annual report on human rights conditions in Iran presents a concerning picture of the expanding use of the death penalty. According to this report, at least 2,488 people were executed in Iran in 2025, a statistic that includes 63 women and two juvenile offenders. Furthermore, 13 of these sentences were carried out in public; an action that has been criticized by many international organizations as a violation of human dignity.

Human rights activists believe that the increase in the number of executions in recent years is not merely a judicial issue, but rather a reflection of an approach that, instead of structural reforms and addressing the roots of social problems, relies on severe and irreversible punishments. They warn that the continuation of this process has increasingly exposed Iran to international criticism and intensified concerns about the state of human rights in the country.

For many human rights defenders and Christian leaders, the value of human life and the right to fair trial are fundamental principles that should not be sacrificed to harsh criminal policies. Therefore, the continuous increase in executions in Iran remains one of the most serious concerns of the international community and human rights organizations.