At dawn on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the death sentences of five prisoners were carried out in Yazd Central Prison. Among them was Vahid Narouei, a Baloch inmate approximately 30 years old, son of Gholam, married and father of two children, originally from Zahedan. All five individuals had previously been convicted on drug-related charges.
The identities of the remaining four prisoners have not yet been made public at the time of this report.
According to available information, Vahid Narouei was arrested in Yazd in 2020 (1399 in the Persian calendar) on drug-related charges and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. On Sunday, April 20, he was transferred from the general ward of the prison to solitary confinement, and his sentence was carried out two days later.
Ongoing Executions and Allegations of Systematic Discrimination
The continued execution of Baloch prisoners in the absence of judicial transparency and media coverage raises serious concerns about systemic discrimination and state-sponsored repression against the Baloch minority in Iran. These actions not only violate basic human dignity but also deepen the rift between the government and the public, potentially fueling further unrest.
This latest execution comes amid a concerning surge in the number of executions targeting Baloch prisoners. Between April 7 and April 14 alone, at least 21 Baloch inmates were executed in prisons across Mashhad (Vakilabad), Shahroud, Gonabad, Iranshahr, Zahedan, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman—highlighting a persistent and alarming trend.
International Reactions and Global Context
Amnesty International, in its latest annual report, revealed that Iran accounted for 972 executions in 2024—over 64% of all recorded executions worldwide. This marks the highest number of executions in Iran since 2015.
Amnesty has warned that the Iranian authorities continue to use the death penalty as a tool to suppress political dissent, minority groups, and vulnerable populations.
Globally, at least 1,585 individuals were executed across 15 countries in 2024, representing a 32% increase compared to the previous year.
Balochistan Human Rights Report Group
According to the 2024 annual report by the Balochistan Human Rights Group, at least 111 Baloch prisoners were executed in various Iranian cities throughout the year. Of these, Zahedan Prison reported 27 cases, Birjand Prison 13, and Yazd Prison 14, representing the highest numbers of recorded executions.
The ongoing lack of judicial transparency, the hasty implementation of death sentences, and the disregard for calls to halt these executions underscore the urgent need for international oversight and a comprehensive review of Iran’s penal and judicial policies—particularly regarding ethnic and religious minorities.
