Iran’s execution machine has again drawn international scrutiny after rights monitors reported that five Afghan nationals were hanged in June, part of a broader surge that pushed monthly executions to at least 109. The case is significant not only for the number of Afghan victims, but also because it reflects a wider pattern of opaque, high-volume executions carried out with little public disclosure and persistent allegations of unfair trials.
Death penalty surge
In June alone, based on statistics provided by Hengaw, the country carried out the execution of at least 109 individuals, representing an increase of at least 10 percent over the same month the previous year, during which there were 99 executions. According to the group, the five executions carried out in June were of Afghan nationals; however, Hengaw did not provide information on their names, specific charges against them, and prison locations where the execution was carried out. Similarly, the report shows that the use of the death penalty covers a variety of cases, including premeditated murders involving 54 cases, drug cases involving 44 individuals, and political/espionage cases involving five people.
Afghan victims in focus
What makes these cases unique is the fact that they belong to a broader trend that is rapidly deteriorating. According to the report of Iran Human Rights and 83 other groups, the number of Afghans executed has increased from five, which happened right after the Taliban took power in 2021, to 16 in 2022, 25 in 2023, and 80 in 2024. At the beginning of 2025, at least 32 Afghans have been killed, according to the same group.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, said,
“Afghan nationals in Iran are amongst the weakest segments of society and the least costly victims of the Islamic Republic’s execution machine – an execution machine that aims to instil fear in society and maintain the regime.” He added, “By promoting anti-immigrant discourse against Afghans, the authorities are paving the way for more executions. The Iranian people, civil society, and the international community must respond strongly to raise the political cost of executing Afghans and work to stop these executions.”
Secrecy and due process
One of the most concerning aspects about the executions in June is the difference in the number of executions witnessed by the rights organizations and those recognized by the country. According to Hengaw, only seven of the 109 executions took place after being made public by the authorities. Twelve individuals were reportedly executed in the absence of prior notice or even visits from their families before the execution. This is not an insignificant procedural matter but, rather, one of the primary reasons why it is so challenging to challenge the death penalty in Iran. As noted in a statement issued by Iran Human Rights, executions are “silent and lacking in transparency” and of all 80 executions of Afghans documented in 2024, only six of them have been reported officially.
Why Afghanistan matters
Afghanistan is relevant since thousands of Afghan refugees and migrants reside in Iran, most of them escaping war and difficult economic conditions. According to the human rights organizations, this group of people is particularly susceptible since the lack of protection, marginalization, and lack of consular access makes capital punishment cases more difficult to defend.
“According to Iran Human Rights, the Islamic Republic feels no obligation to provide consular access for Afghan nationals due to the political situation inside Afghanistan.”
This group warns that if the rate of execution continues as it is now,
“dozens more Afghan nationals will likely be executed in the next few months.”
This is a reflection of the greater concern about the targeting of foreigners, specifically those who are from poorer regions.
Broader execution picture
The June report fits into a broader national escalation. Hengaw’s separate yearly tally cited by other outlets said Iranian authorities have executed at least 370 people since the beginning of the year, including nine women and 11 Afghan nationals. Meanwhile, a 2025 annual report by Iran Human Rights and ECPM recorded at least 1,639 executions in 2025, including at least 84 Afghan nationals.
Different monitors often publish different totals because they use different verification standards and only count cases they can confirm, which means the real number may be higher than any published report. Still, the direction is unmistakable: executions are rising, and Afghan nationals are being hit with unusual severity.
Categories of punishment
The statistics from June have provided insights into the utilization of capital punishment by the state of Iran in various crime categories. According to Hengaw, murders accounted for the majority of these crimes, followed by drug-related offenses. Additionally, the data indicated that there were also some political or espionage offenses within the category. This is significant in the context of the death penalty since it demonstrates that it is not used on rare occasions but rather serves as a routine tool in the Iranian criminal and security system. The annual report provides additional support for this point of view. It states that Iran’s execution process has maintained strong links to its political structure, with the death penalty being referred to as repressive and social control mechanism.
International criticism
The United Nations and groups such as Amnesty International have repeatedly called on Iran to halt executions, arguing that capital punishment violates the right to life and that current proceedings fall short of fair-trial standards. Rights groups also say that the lack of transparency makes accountability nearly impossible, particularly in cases involving migrants, political defendants, and marginalized communities.
The June figures are likely to intensify that criticism. A month with 109 executions, including five Afghans, suggests not just a high overall pace but also a system willing to proceed with executions even as international concern grows. For rights advocates, the issue is no longer a single case but a repeat pattern that is now documented month after month.
What the numbers show
The numbers themselves paint a stark picture: 5 Afghans hanged in June, 109 executions overall that month, 54 for murder, 44 for drug offenses, 5 for political or espionage-related reasons, and 7 press releases on the matter by the Iranian authorities. On an extended timeline, according to rights organizations, executions of Afghans in Iran have risen from 5 in 2021 to 80 in 2024, with 32 more in the first five months of 2025. All in all, this paints the picture of a system of capital punishment that not only grows but does so in ever-greater obscurity. And, of course, it means that Afghans in particular remain some of the most vulnerable prisoners within Iran’s penal system.