Iran Executes Two Afghan Nationals, Says Rights Group

The Iran Human Rights Organisation, based in Norway, has reported the execution of seven prisoners including two Afghan nationals at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to the organisation, the Afghan prisoners had been arrested more than a decade ago on charges of “premeditated murder” and “rape.”

In a statement released Sunday, 8 June, the group identified the executed Afghan inmates as Ahmadullah Ismaeili, 31, and Shukrullah.

Quoting its sources, the organisation said: “Ahmadullah Ismaeili, originally from Faryab province in Afghanistan, had been arrested 10 years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death.” His execution was reportedly carried out on Wednesday, 4 June.

The statement also cited Javan newspaper, reporting that Shukrullah was executed on the morning of Sunday, 1 June. According to the report, he had been arrested in 2013 on charges of “premeditated murder and rape” and later sentenced to death.

Iran Human Rights noted: “The lack of classification for premeditated murder in Iran leads to the issuance of death sentences regardless of the severity, context or motivation behind the act.”

These executions come as more than 80 human rights organisations recently issued a joint appeal condemning the rising number of executions of Afghan nationals in Iran and calling for an immediate halt to the practice.

According to the appeal, the number of executions of Afghan citizens in Iran has surged since the Taliban’s return to power, rising from 16 in 2022 to 80 in 2024.