KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Iran carried out at least 109 executions in June, including five Afghan nationals, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, as the country’s use of the death penalty continues to rise.
In a report, the Norway-based Iranian rights group, which tracks human rights abuses inside the country, said the figure represents an increase of at least 10% compared with the same month last year, when 99 people were executed.
Hengaw did not disclose the identities of the five executed Afghans, their specific charges, or the prisons where the executions took place. According to the report, the majority of cases in June involved charges of premeditated murder (54 cases), followed by drug-related offences (44 cases) and political or espionage charges (5 cases).
Iranian authorities publicly announced only seven of the 109 executions, the group said. In 12 cases, prisoners were executed without prior notification to their families or the opportunity for a final visit.
Iran remains one of the world’s top executioners, imposing capital punishment for a wide range of crimes that include murder, drug trafficking, and certain security-related offences.
Separate data from the Iran Human Rights group shows that Iranian authorities have executed at least 370 people since the beginning of the year, including nine women and 11 Afghan nationals. Rights groups note that the true figure is probably higher, as not all executions are publicly reported and some prisoners’ identities remain undisclosed.
Iran hosts millions of Afghan migrants and refugees, one of the country’s largest foreign communities. Many Afghans fled years of conflict and economic hardship in Afghanistan. Human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Iran’s judicial processes in such cases, citing concerns over due process, limited access to legal representation, and lack of transparency, particularly affecting vulnerable migrant populations.
The United Nations and international rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to halt executions, arguing that capital punishment violates the right to life and expressing concerns over fair trial standards and the transparency of judicial proceedings.
