Executions in Lakan Prison Highlight Iran’s Alarming Death Penalty Surge

Executions in Lakan Prison, Rasht, claim Hossein Mokhtari and Farshad Hamgan. Iran’s death penalty surge violates human rights. Learn more about this crisis.

Iran Human Rights Society, August 20, 2025 – On August 20, 2025, authorities executed two prisoners, Hossein Mokhtari and Farshad Hamgan, in Lakan Prison, Rasht. This brings the total executions in Mordad Persian month calendar to at least 153, averaging over five daily. Consequently, Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty raises serious human rights concerns. This article explores the recent executions and their violations of international standards.

Details of the Executions in Lakan Prison

In the early hours of August 20, 2025, Hossein Mokhtari and Farshad Hamgan faced execution in Lakan Prison. Mokhtari, arrested on drug-related charges, received a death sentence for his first-time offense. Additionally, authorities confiscated his assets, devastating his family. Hamgan, aged 52 from Lunvil, Astara, was convicted of murder. He was moved to solitary confinement on August 16, 2025, awaiting execution. These cases reflect Iran’s frequent use of capital punishment for both violent and non-violent crimes.

Human Rights Violations in Iran’s Death Penalty Practices

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 3, declares everyone’s right to life. However, Iran’s death penalty practices directly challenge this principle. Executions in Lakan Prison and elsewhere often lack transparency and fair trial guarantees. For instance, Mokhtari’s case involved no public acknowledgment, raising doubts about judicial fairness. Furthermore, the irreversibility of the death penalty risks fatal errors, while execution methods may constitute torture, violating human rights standards.

International Covenant Violations

Iran, a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, must limit the death penalty to the most serious crimes with fair trial protections. Yet, cases like those in Lakan Prison show restricted legal rights and questionable court independence. Therefore, these executions breach Article 6, which demands rigorous judicial standards. The lack of transparency in Mokhtari’s and Hamgan’s cases underscores systemic issues in Iran’s justice system.

Broader Implications of Iran’s Execution Surge

With 153 executions in August 2025 alone, Iran averages one execution every five hours. This alarming rate, particularly in facilities like Lakan Prison, signals a reliance on capital punishment to suppress dissent and crime. Moreover, drug-related executions, like Mokhtari’s, draw criticism from human rights groups, who argue non-violent offenses should not warrant death. Consequently, these practices strain Iran’s international human rights obligations.
Human rights organizations condemn Iran’s execution practices, citing violations of fundamental rights. The cases of Mokhtari and Hamgan fuel calls for a death penalty moratorium.

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