According to the “Human Rights Organization of Iran,” the Iranian government has executed eight prisoners in the past two days, two of whom are Afghan citizens. These executions took place on Wednesday, February 19, in Qezel Hesar Prison.
The organization’s report claims that the executed Afghans were convicted of “sexual assault,” but their identities have not yet been revealed. The independent Iranian newspaper “Hamshahri” confirmed the execution of one individual for “premeditated murder” and three others for “sexual assault,” but provided no information regarding the remaining four executions.
According to the human rights organization’s statistics, at least 975 people have been executed in Iran so far in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to 2023. The organization states that at least 80 of those executed were Afghan citizens, convicted on various charges.
Human rights organizations and the international community have criticized the rise in executions in Iran in recent years, some of which are linked to unfair trials and human rights violations. This report has also raised concerns about the execution of foreign nationals, including Afghans, as their access to legal assistance in Iran is limited.