In the first three days of this week, Iran has executed at least seven individuals in prisons across the country.

Reports from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency News Agency (HRANA) indicate that the country has seen the execution of at least 59 people between September 23 to October 22.

The charges against the latest seven, as reported on websites including the Iran Human Rights Organization, HRANA, and Baluch Activists, primarily revolved around drug offenses.

The trend of executions on drug-related charges in Iran has been steadily increasing, with the first nine months of 2023 showing a nearly twofold rise compared to the same period last year.

On October 17, the Human Rights Organization of Iran reported the execution of a group of at least 10 men in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, all on drug related charges.

According to reports, during the period from January 1 to October 10, Iran executed at least 534 people. Only 13% of the cases were officially announced. Around 57% of the executions were linked to charges related to drug offenses, an area in which Iran has some of the world's highest incidences.

Out of the 285 drug-related executions reported worldwide by the Harm Reduction International organization in 2022, 90% took place in Iran.