The Iranian government executed 29 prisoners on Wednesday, according to the organization Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). A group execution of 26 people at Ghezhelsar Prison and the executions of another three people at Karaj Penitentiary took place on Wednesday.

Sources informed IHRNGO that 17 of the executed were punished for murder-related charges, seven for drug offences, and three for rape charges. While there have been reports of two women also being executed, this information was not confirmed. The execution at Ghezhelsar Prison included two Afghan nationals, despite the fact that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan had recently asked for death row Afghan prisoners to be sent back to them.

With these acts, the total number of alleged executions conducted in Iran since July has risen to 87. Amnesty International reported in April that Iran has executed 853 people since 2023, the highest figure in the last eight years, with more than half of executions being carried out over drug-related offences, fueled by stricter anti-drug policies. The Baluchi minority specifically constitutes 29 percent of the executed while comprising only 5 percent of the Iran population.

IHRNGO Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam stated that the Iran government was “by exploiting global attention on its tension with Israel … engaged in mass killing prisoners and intensifying the suppression in Iran.”

The executions come amidst international human rights groups urging Iran to cease its use of excessive force against Kurdish border couriers, some of whom were executed for murder charges. As tensions rise between Iran and Israel due to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last month, Iran continues to attract global attention.