Execution of 975 People in Iran in 2024; Highest Number in 16 Years

Two human rights organizations have announced that the Iranian government executed at least 975 people in 2024, a figure that, according to these organizations, is the highest since 2008. This report, published by the Iran Human Rights Organization based in Norway and the French group 'Together Against the Death Penalty,' refers to this increase as a 'terrifying rise' in the use of capital punishment. Agence France-Presse, reflecting the report from these two organizations, noted that the number of executions represents a 17% increase compared to 834 executions recorded in 2023. According to the report, of the total executions last year, 31 were women and four were carried out in public. These two human rights organizations have warned that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses capital punishment as a tool for political repression and instilling fear among the populace, especially following the nationwide protests of 2022. Two of the executions last year were directly related to the protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in September 2022. Mohammad Qabadi, 23, was executed in January 2023 for allegedly killing a police officer with a vehicle during the protests in October 2022. Human rights groups claim his trial was unfair and that the court ignored evidence of his bipolar disorder. Gholamreza Rasai, 34, was also secretly executed in August 2023 for allegedly killing a member of the Revolutionary Guards during the protests. Activists assert that his confessions were obtained under torture. Under Iranian law, which is based on Islamic Sharia, the death penalty is applied for crimes such as murder, rape, drug-related offenses, and vague charges like 'corruption on earth' and 'rebellion,' accusations that human rights activists believe are used against political dissenters. The report also raises concerns about unverified executions, suggesting that the actual number of executions may be higher than recorded figures. According to these two human rights organizations, 39 executions were reported last year that they could not confirm from other sources. The Iran Human Rights Organization stated that in the last three months of 2024, an average of five people were executed daily in Iran, coinciding with heightened tensions between the Iranian government and Israel during that period. The organization also reported that since the beginning of the current Persian year, Iran has carried out at least 121 executions. Previously, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed serious concern over the significant increase in executions in Iran last year. According to a report received by Voice of America, Turk stated, 'It is very concerning that year after year we are witnessing an increase in the number of people sentenced to death in Iran.' He added, 'It is time for the Iranian government to stop this rising wave of executions.' Most executions last year were for drug-related offenses, but opponents and individuals connected to the nationwide protests of 2022 were also executed. An increase in the number of executed women has also been reported. Approximately 170 countries have either abolished the death penalty or established a moratorium on its use.