Execution of at least three individuals in Isfahan and Borujerd by Islamic Republic judicial authorities

Human rights sources reported on Wednesday, February 24, that the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic executed at least three prisoners in the prisons of Isfahan and Borujerd. According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, early on Wednesday, February 24, at least two prisoners related to drug charges were executed by the Islamic Republic judicial authorities in Dastgerd prison in Isfahan. The identities of the two executed prisoners were announced as Tayeb Javadi, 35, and Mahdi Shahbakhsh Pirsourani, 37. This human rights organization quoted an informed source stating that Mr. Javadi, a shoemaker and father of one, was arrested three years ago on charges of 'drug trafficking' and sentenced to death. Additionally, Mr. Shahbakhsh, originally from Zahedan, was arrested six years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death. The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported that on Wednesday, February 17, judicial authorities executed a prisoner named Salman Hamdard, 30, in Borujerd prison. According to this report, Mr. Hamdard was a citizen of Afghanistan and was arrested three years ago on charges of 'drug trafficking' and was executed last week. The judiciary and official media of the Islamic Republic have not reported these executions so far. The execution of prisoners related to drug offenses has continuously increased over the past four years by the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic, such that according to the Iran Human Rights Organization, the number of executions last year reached '471 executions,' an 84% increase compared to the previous year. According to the 'Tuesdays Against Execution' campaign, since February 22, 2023, more than 1,021 individuals have been executed by the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic in Iran. Although the judiciary of the Islamic Republic does not officially announce many executions, according to documentation collected by independent human rights organizations, the number of executions in Iran indicates the highest global rate of violations of the right to life by the government. Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, has previously emphasized in an interview that the Islamic Republic uses executions as a 'tool of repression and intimidation' against citizens to 'create terror.'