February 28, 2025 – Birjand, Iran – The execution of Abdollah Safarzahi, a Baloch prisoner sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was carried out in Birjand Prison at dawn on Wednesday.
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, citing HRANA, Safarzahi had been arrested five years ago on charges of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. He was later convicted and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Reports indicate that he was married and had one child.
This execution is part of a broader pattern of capital punishment disproportionately affecting the Baloch community in Iran. In 2024 alone, at least 111 Baloch prisoners were executed across various cities. The highest number of executions took place in Zahedan Prison (27 cases), Yazd (14 cases), and Birjand (13 cases).
Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the high rate of executions in Iran, particularly targeting ethnic minorities. The international community continues to call for transparency, due process, and an end to capital punishment.
