Afghan citizen executed in Iran’s Bandar Abbas prison
Halwash organization reported that Khoda Rahim Popalzai, an Afghan citizen, was executed on Monday in Bandar Abbas prison without prior notification to his family.
Popalzai was arrested two years ago on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to death by the court.
The report stated that Popalzai had been transferred to solitary confinement two days before the execution, which was carried out early Monday morning.
Halwash highlighted that the execution was conducted without allowing Popalzai a final meeting with his family, sparking outrage and criticism from human rights groups.
This marks the third execution of Afghan citizens in Iran in the past week. On Saturday, the Iranian Human Rights Organization reported that 10 prisoners, including an Afghan, were executed in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. The Afghan was convicted of “premeditated murder” and sentenced to retribution in kind.
Additionally, Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported last week that another Afghan prisoner was executed in Zahedan Central Prison. He had been accused of drug trafficking by Iran’s judiciary.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization announced earlier this month that executions of Afghans in Iran have surged since the Taliban took power. Since 2022, at least 90 Afghan citizens have been executed in Iran, including 49 cases this year alone.
The plight of Afghan refugees in Iran continues to worsen, particularly for those detained in Iranian prisons. Many face a lack of access to legal representation, endure harassment and torture by Iranian authorities, and suffer violations of their basic rights.
Prisoners are often denied fair trials and subjected to inhumane treatment.
Furthermore, forced deportations of Afghan refugees, even those holding valid legal documents, highlight the precarious situation of this vulnerable group.
International human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Iran to uphold the rights of Afghan refugees and detainees, urging the global community to address these injustices.
The post Afghan citizen executed in Iran’s Bandar Abbas prison appeared first on Khaama Press.