Iran has witnessed a surge in executions, with at least 975 people put to death in 2024, a staggering 17% rise from the previous year’s figure of 834. This alarming statistic was detailed in a report by human rights watchdogs, Iran Human Rights and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty. Such a drastic escalation in capital punishment is viewed as a method for the Iranian government to suppress dissent and instill fear among the populace.
The recent figures paint a bleak picture, with the number of executions reaching its highest since 2008. Among those executed, there were 31 women, representing the highest count in nearly 20 years, and four met their end through public hangings. The human rights advocates argue that these statistics reflect a grim reality where the state employs the death penalty to maintain its grip on power following widespread protests that erupted in 2022.
Activists have highlighted that on average, five individuals were executed each day in the last quarter of 2024 alone. This latest report illustrates how the Iranian regime allegedly employs capital punishment not only as a form of justice but more so as a tool to silence political opposition and instill fear. The brutal reality unfolds as the country continues to execute those accused of various crimes, often under vague and broad laws that restrict free speech and dissent.
Furthermore, it was noted that two of the recently executed individuals were linked to protests ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. The authorities are furthermore accused of using coerced confessions to carry out these sentences, generating an atmosphere of terror and hopelessness within society. While Iran ranks just behind China in terms of execution numbers, the exact scale of loss remains obscured, with many instances unreported.
As of early 2024, 123 executions were already documented. The relentless increase in such violent measures raises concerns not only among human rights groups but also within the broader international community, which watches anxiously as the Iranian government clings resolutely to its punitive practices.
The dark narrative surrounding capital punishment in Iran reveals a concerning truth: it is wielded not just as a judicial tool but as a chilling reminder of the risk of dissent under an oppressive regime. Human rights organisations continue to call for heightened awareness and intervention to safeguard the rights of those facing execution.
In 2024, Iran executed 975 people, marking a 17% increase from 2023. This escalation, termed a ‘horrifying’ rise in capital punishment, reflects the regime’s use of executions to suppress dissent following protests in 2022. Among the executed were 31 women and four cases of public hangings, the highest rates in two decades, raising alarm among human rights advocates regarding state-sponsored repression.
In 2024, Iran’s execution tally reached at least 975, a significant increase revealing the regime’s intensified use of capital punishment to quell dissent and control the populace. With notable figures, including 31 women executed, the report underscores a grim reality of human rights violations. The Iranian government stands accused of wielding the death penalty as a weapon against its citizens, particularly after the socio-political upheavals that began in 2022, highlighting an urgent need for international scrutiny and intervention.
Original Source: san.com
