Annual Report: 659 People Executed in Iran; 'Thousands' Await Execution

On the World Day Against the Death Penalty, a human rights organization released an annual report on executions in Iran over the past year. The Human Rights Activists in Iran group published a report on Tuesday, October 10, coinciding with October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, to draw public attention to the situation of 'thousands who are currently awaiting execution.' According to the report, at least '659 people' were executed by hanging in various regions of Iran during this period, marking an increase of approximately 24% compared to the same period last year. The report noted that from October 9, 2022, to October 9, 2023, the organization recorded '580' reported executions, and during this time, '164 individuals' were sentenced to death, including 'five women,' with 'two' sentenced to public execution. The report emphasized that the issuance of death sentences increased by '84%' in the past year compared to the same period the previous year. It stated that during the specified period, 'the death sentences of 659 individuals' were carried out, with 'seven executed publicly' and '17 of the executed being women,' while 'one' of those executed was under 18 years old at the time of the offense. Among the executed in the past year, approximately 57% were charged with 'drug-related crimes,' and over 35% were accused of 'murder.' Other charges mentioned in the report included 'rape,' 'moharebeh and baghi' (waging war against God), 'corruption on earth,' 'adultery,' and 'political, ideological, and religious offenses.' According to the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Alborz province accounted for over 15% of executions, followed by Sistan and Baluchestan with over 11%, and Kerman with over 8%. This report only includes executions in Iran identified and reported by independent human rights sources, and according to this data, '63%' of executions were carried out 'secretly' and 'without announcement in the media.' The report highlights the deprivation of most defendants of 'access to a fair trial' and mentions the prohibition of independent human rights organizations in Iran, adding that this report reflects the cases that 'civil society' has been able to monitor regarding executions. Previously, the Open Data of Iran database reported a '75%' increase in executions in the Islamic Republic following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Additionally, the latest report from the Freedom House think tank based in the U.S. noted the execution of two individuals in Iran for blasphemy and merely for sharing their opinions on social media. The number of individuals who died while in custody in the Islamic Republic's prisons, including Javad Rouhi and Faramarz Javidzad, is not included in this data. Hassan Nayeb Hashem, a human rights activist, stated to VOA that 'in the Islamic Republic, the life of a prisoner is completely worthless, and government institutions and prison officials do not attribute any human value to prisoners.' He referred to the deprivation of life in the Islamic Republic's prisons as 'the silent execution of prisoners.'