Iran Records Highest Number of Executions Since 2015: Human Rights Observers Report Surge

In a concerning revelation, Iran has witnessed a surge in executions, reaching a staggering total of at least 834 in the previous year, marking the highest figure recorded since 2015. This grim statistic, reported by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty, reflects a 43 percent increase from the previous year.

According to the joint report released on Tuesday, this marks only the second time in two decades that over 800 executions were documented in a single year, the last instance being in 2015 when 972 executions were recorded. The report underscores the concerning trend of capital punishment in the Islamic Republic, accusing Iranian authorities of utilizing executions to instill fear following the protests triggered by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

“Iran has executed nine individuals allegedly involved in attacks on security forces during the 2022 protests, with executions on other charges notably rising, particularly in drug-related cases,” the report highlights. Of particular alarm is the dramatic escalation in drug-related executions, which soared to 471 in 2023, a staggering increase from previous years.

The report also sheds light on the disproportionate impact of executions on ethnic minorities, particularly the Sunni Baluch community from Iran’s southeast, who are significantly overrepresented among those executed for drug-related offenses. Despite comprising only around five percent of Iran’s population, at least 167 Baluch individuals were executed in 2023, accounting for 20 percent of total executions.

Furthermore, the lack of international response to these executions, particularly amidst global attention on other conflicts, is cited as concerning. “The inconsistency in the international community’s reaction to the executions in Iran is unfortunate and sends the wrong signal to the authorities,” Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, expressed.

The report also notes an increase in public hangings, with seven such executions recorded in 2023, tripling from the previous year. Additionally, it highlights the highest number of female executions in a decade, with 22 women executed, primarily on murder charges.

As human rights observers raise alarm over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment, calls for international attention and condemnation grow louder, urging concerted efforts to address the concerning trend of executions in the Islamic Republic.