Iran's executions surge to horrifying record in 2024
- Iran executed at least 975 individuals in 2024, a 17% increase from the previous year.
- The majority of executions were for drug-related crimes, with at least 31 women and one child included among those executed.
- Human rights groups criticize these actions as a central tool of political oppression implemented by the Iranian government.
In 2024, Iran faced severe criticism as reports revealed a staggering number of executions across the country. Human rights groups, including Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty, disclosed that the Iranian authorities executed at least 975 individuals, marking the highest rate of capital punishment since 2008. This figure indicated a significant rise of 17% from 834 executions recorded in 2023. Notably, among those executed were at least 31 women and one child, with the majority of executions attributed to drug-related crimes and murder charges. These alarming statistics have emerged in the context of the Iranian government's apparent use of the death penalty as a method to instill fear within the population, especially following the widespread protests that erupted in 2022. Human rights advocates argue that the judicial system has become increasingly oppressive, targeting dissenters, including political protesters, Kurdish dissenters, and even Afghan nationals, as part of a broader strategy to maintain governmental control. The data reveals that the Iranian government officially announced only a small fraction of the executions—95 in total—reflecting a theme of secrecy surrounding capital punishment in the country. This decline in public announcements is troubling, especially when human rights organizations suggest that the executions serve a dual purpose: to punish crime while simultaneously quelling political dissent. The international outcry surrounding these executions has intensified, with many calling for an urgent re-evaluation of the death penalty in Iran. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights, condemned these practices, stating that the death penalty violates fundamental human rights and poses a risk of executing innocent individuals. As the number of executions continues to rise, it becomes increasingly clear that the Iranian government's approach to capital punishment warrants global attention and condemnation.