Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 14 October 2026: Salar Rashidzadeh, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Yasuj Central Prison. His execution was previously postponed after his mother suffered a fatal heart attack upon hearing the news of her son’s imminent execution.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Yasuj Central Prison on 7 October 2026. His identity has been established as Salar Rashidzadeh, a 49-year-old father of three who was from Qazvin and lived in Tehran. He was sentenced to death on drug-related charges by the Criminal Court.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Salar owned a pick-up truck and worked every day at the Sadeghiyeh fruit and vegetable market in Tehran, transporting goods to nearby towns. Around four years ago, whilst transporting cargo towards Yasuj, he was intercepted and arrested before reaching the city on charges of carrying 8.6 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamine) and heroin.”
The source added: “Salar's execution was initially scheduled for 29 September. His wife, three children and mother went to the prison for their final visit. However, upon hearing the news of her son's imminent execution, his mother suffered a fatal heart attack on the spot. Due to his mother's death, the execution was halted that day, but his sentence was ultimately carried out on Wednesday, 7 October.”
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. According to IHRNGO’s 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 795 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only 0.18% were announced by official sources. 13% of all drug-related executions in 2025 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.
In December 2025, IHRNGO published a report titled “A Village of Graves: Widespread and Systematic Drug Executions in Iran,” which provides an overview of drug laws and documents the systematic violation of due process and fair trial rights in drug cases. In the first nine months of 2026, at least 211 people were executed for drug-related charges.