In brief
In a stark report by the UN, at least 901 individuals were executed in Iran in 2024, reflecting the highest numbers recorded in nine years, with rising implications for human rights within the nation.
The recent UN report has brought to light the distressing rise of executions within Iran, recording at least 901 executions in 2024, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. This figure encompasses diverse reasons for execution, including drug-related crimes, as well as the suppression of dissenters tied to the anti-government protests that erupted in 2022. Notably, this past December witnessed the execution of approximately 40 individuals within a single week.UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed deep concerns regarding the ongoing escalation in the use of the death penalty in Iran, emphasizing the need for authorities to implement a moratorium and ultimately abolish the practice. He stated, “The death penalty is incompatible with the fundamental right to life and raises the unacceptable risk of executing innocent people.” His remarks underline the urgency required in addressing this growing issue.The Iranian Human Rights (IHR), which is based in Norway, reported that 2024 was particularly notable for the execution of women, with at least 31 women executed, the highest since monitoring began 17 years ago. Among them was Leila Ghaemi, who was executed for killing her husband after discovering him engaged in a horrific crime against her daughter. Another troubling case involved Parvin Mousavi, who was executed for unwittingly transporting drugs believed to be a form of medicine.Activists continue to highlight that drug offenses should not warrant the death penalty as they do not fulfill the criteria of “most serious crimes” as defined in international law. A report from Hengaw, a Kurdish rights organization, pointed out that a large portion of the executed individuals came from ethnic minorities, particularly the Kurds. The effects of the Iranian government’s repressive actions on these communities have intensified since the protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.Furthermore, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented that five juvenile offenders were among those executed, contravening international laws that prohibit capital punishment for individuals under 18 at the time of their offense.According to Amnesty International, Iran accounted for 74% of the global executions recorded in 2023, excluding China. While the exact figures in China remain uncertain due to classified information, the alarming trend underscores a troubling reality for human rights across Iran, where the increase in capital punishment raises severe ethical and humanitarian questions regarding justice in the nation.
