Iranian authorities have executed two inmates on drug-related charges in the central district of Zanjan, as reported by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Saturday. The executions took place in Zanjan Central Prison on Wednesday.

The executed individuals were Nader Khasravi, 33, from Qazvin, and Nasrullah Ayyubi, 27, from Ahvaz. Khasravi was identified as a Turkish citizen, while Ayyubi was an Arab citizen. Khasravi had been in custody for three years, and Ayyubi for two years prior to their executions.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Kurdish human rights group, reported that these executions have not been covered by any state media, including those typically affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

In a troubling trend, Hengaw noted a significant number of executions in Iranian prisons recently, with at least 67 prisoners executed in the past month alone. This marks a 13 percent decrease from April, which saw 77 executions. Of those executed, 25 were Kurdish prisoners, making up 37 percent of the total. Additionally, 15 were Turkish prisoners, five were Baluch prisoners, and three were Afghan prisoners.

The rights group also highlighted other recent executions, including two Kurdish religious prisoners, Khasrav Basharat and Anwar Khazri, in Karaj's Qezel Hesar prison, and a Kurdish child, Ramin Saadat, in Miandoab's central prison. Four women were executed in May: Fariba Mohammadzahi from Zahedan in Kerman prison, Razia from Mashhad in Vakilabad prison, Parvin Mousavi from Maragheh in Urmia prison, and Fatemeh Abdullapour from Neyshabur in the city's central prison.

This surge in executions has raised alarm among human rights advocates, highlighting persistent concerns regarding the treatment of ethnic minorities and women in Iran. The increase in the number of executions underscores ongoing issues within Iran’s judicial system and the broader context of human rights in the country.