Afghan Couple Executed in Iran’s Qazvin Central Prison, Rights Groups Report

Iranian authorities have executed an Afghan couple, Hadigheh Abadi and Younes Mazarshams, inside Qazvin Central Prison (also known as Choubindar), according to multiple human rights organizations.

Key Facts:

• The executions reportedly took place at dawn on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

• Both were 46 years old, originally from Herat, Afghanistan, and had been living in Taleqan, Karaj for approximately two decades.

• They were arrested four years ago in connection to a drug-related case and later sentenced to death by the Iranian judiciary.

• The couple were detained along with their three children, who were transferred to Afghanistan several months after their parents’ arrest.

• Iranian state media and judicial outlets have not confirmed or publicly reported the executions.

Broader Context and Rights Group Concerns:

• Human rights monitors note that executions on drug-related charges in Iran have been increasing in recent years.

• Afghan nationals are among those disproportionately affected, often facing legal processes with little transparency, minimal access to legal representation, and families kept uninformed.

• Many executions are reportedly carried out without public announcement or official acknowledgment.

Possible Implications:

• The case may further strain diplomatic relations between Iran and Afghanistan, raising questions about consular support and legal protections for Afghan citizens abroad.

• It highlights concerns raised by international human rights bodies about Iran’s use of the death penalty, especially for drug‐related offences, and the need for due process, transparency, and the rights of foreign nationals under international law.

• For the families of those executed, lack of official confirmation complicates closure and any attempts at legal recourse.

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