Tehran — Iranian authorities have murdered five people, including three Afghan nationals, on drug-related accusations, according to Hengaw, an Iran-based human rights organization. Hengaw said that the executions took place on Wednesday at Bandar Abbas Central Prison. Ramzi Beigsawar, a 25-year-old Afghan from the Babaryan tribe, was among those hanged. He had been caught three years earlier and sentenced to death on drug trafficking allegations. Hengaw noticed a considerable increase in executions for drug offences in Iran during the last four years. According to the group, at least 471 executions for drug-related offences were registered in 2023, representing an 84 percent rise from 256 such cases in 2022. International human rights organizations have criticized the significant increase, arguing that Iran’s punitive approach disproportionately targets vulnerable individuals, including foreign nationals and members of marginalized communities.Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world and continues to face widespread condemnation for its use of the death penalty, particularly in drug-related cases. Rights groups have repeatedly called on Tehran to impose a moratorium on executions and adopt more humane approaches to addressing drug-related crimes.