At Least 20 Afghans Executed in Iranian Prisons in 2026, Rights Groups Say

At least 20 Afghan nationals have been executed in Iranian prisons since the beginning of 2026, according to a review of reports by Iranian human rights organisations, renewing concerns over due process, access to legal counsel and transparency in death penalty cases.

The reports suggest that at least one Afghan national has been executed each month so far this year, while at least three others have received death sentences.

The cases involve a range of allegations, including drug-related offences, murder, alleged espionage for Israel and participation in anti-government protests.

Iranian rights organisations have expressed concern over what they describe as insufficient transparency and oversight in capital punishment cases. They have also questioned whether defendants receive adequate legal representation and fair trials, while families are reportedly often kept in the dark about the legal proceedings or fate of their relatives.

According to the reports, most of the documented executions took place at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Taybad Prison, Yazd Prison and Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Drug-related offences account for a significant share of the cases, while others involve murder, alleged espionage for Israel and participation in anti-government protests.

In one of the latest cases reported by rights groups, cousins Gol Mohammad Mohammadi and Qaim Hosseini were tried and sentenced to death in connection with the so-called Alikhani Square case in Isfahan, which has been linked to protests in Iran in January 2026.

In a separate case, three Afghan nationals—Afshar Shah-Ahmadi, Iman Shafaei and Sadruddin Ahmadzadeh—were sentenced to death in July. Human Rights Iran and Hengaw reported that they were convicted of allegedly participating in the burning of a police station.

Rights groups say their concerns extend beyond the executions to the investigation and prosecution of capital cases. They have raised questions about access to legal assistance, whether families are adequately informed about court proceedings and whether defendants are given a genuine opportunity to mount an effective defence.

Human rights organisations also warn that many executions in Iran are carried out without official public announcements, making it difficult to establish the full number of Afghan nationals executed in the country.

According to Hengaw, at least 85 Afghan nationals were executed in Iran in 2025.

The continued executions have also prompted criticism of what rights groups describe as limited public action by the Taliban authorities to intervene on behalf of Afghan citizens facing the death penalty in Iran.