In a disturbing turn of events, Iranian authorities carried out the execution of eight Kurdish prisoners at Karaj Central Prison on Sunday. The individuals, Ahmad Latif, Akbar Khorramtash, Amir Hossein Maleki, Ali Akbar Moradian, Hadi Nazari, and Ali Miri, hailing from Kermanshah, Harsin, and Sahna, were sentenced to death on alleged charges related to drug offenses by the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

The executions, which have not been officially reported by Iranian judiciary-associated media outlets, were disclosed by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. The lack of transparency surrounding these executions is consistent with a broader trend, as international human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the secrecy surrounding capital punishment in Iran.

Two additional Kurdish inmates, Hadi Nazari and Ali Miri, both from Harsin, Kermanshah province, were also executed on the same day in Karaj prison. Arrested two years ago on drug-related charges, they faced the same fate following a sentence by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj.

This grim incident is part of a disturbing pattern, with nearly 20 recorded cases of Kurdish prisoners facing execution in Iranian prisons since the beginning of the year. The Karaj Central Prison has been a frequent site of such executions, underscoring the alarming prevalence of capital punishment in the country.

International human rights organizations and activists have consistently voiced their concerns over Iran's frequent use of the death penalty, especially when the legal process may not adhere to fair trial standards. The lack of transparency and the escalating number of executions highlight the urgent need for international attention to address the human rights situation in Iran.