Ahmad Makrandoust Executed in Zahedan Central Prison

According to the Baluch Activists Campaign, a Baluch man was executed on November 6 in Zahedan Central Prison. His identity has been reported as 56-year-old Ahmad Makrandoust who was also known as Haji Rahim Shahouzehi and had been sentenced to death for drug-related offences.

Arrested four years ago, he was from the Harmak region of Zahedan province. He was a lorry driver prior to his arrest and suffered from sight and heart problems.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Four other Baluch men were executed on drug-related charges in Zahedan Central Prison on November 13.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 25 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2020. However, at least 101 people have so far been executed on the same charge in 2021.

On May 3, IHR published a report on the death penalty in the first four months of 2021 expressing concern at the significant increase in the number of drug-related executions and continues to warn of the continuation of this trend.