In 2024, Iran witnessed a staggering increase in executions, peaking at 975—an alarming 17% rise compared to the previous year and the highest count seen in over two decades. The Iran Human Rights Organization (IHR) and the French NGO Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort (ECPM) reported these figures, underscoring the reality that the death penalty is often wielded as a tool for societal oppression and violation of basic human rights. Mahmud Amiri-Moghaddam, head of IHR, remarked, “The death penalty serves as the basis for many human rights violations in Iran.”
Executions in Iran target various groups, including individuals convicted of serious crimes like murder, as well as political dissenters. Amiri-Moghaddam noted that the regime exploits international indifference to execute individuals at alarming rates, particularly evident during heightened tensions with nations such as Israel, where executions reportedly escalated to six per day. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed profound concern regarding these escalating figures.
Moreover, the number of women facing execution reached its highest since 2007, with 31 women executed in 2024 alone, some accused of killing in self-defense against abuse or forced marriage. Activists like Narges Mohammadi have been vocal about these injustices, rallying support against the death penalty. Demonstrations, such as those outside Evin prison, illustrate the growing societal resistance against capital punishment, marked by the emergence of campaigns like “Tuesdays without executions.”
A significant outcry has emerged from legal experts, with 228 Iranian lawyers condemning the swift sentencing of three women activists as fundamentally unjust. They asserted that these proceedings violate both humanitarian principles and international obligations regarding fair trials and the right to life. The calls for reform extend beyond domestic protests, reaching the international stage, with demands aimed at liberal democratic states to condemn Iran’s execution practices.
Notably, the high rate of executions linked to drug offences—503 in 2024—has drawn particular scrutiny. While human rights organisations continue pressing the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to end cooperation with Iran until these practices change, they emphasise the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and legal reform within the country.
In 2024, Iran’s executions surged to 975, the highest in over 20 years, with the death penalty increasingly used against political dissenters and women defending themselves from abuse. Activists are rallying against these practices, with notable campaigns like “Tuesdays without executions” emerging. Prominent figures, including legal experts, are demanding an end to these human rights violations, urging the international community to condemn the Iranian regime’s actions.
The sharp rise in executions in Iran marks a critical juncture for human rights advocacy, highlighting the lethal intersection of state power and systemic oppression. The international community faces mounting pressure to respond decisively, advocating for the cessation of capital punishment and supporting burgeoning resistance movements within Iran. As activists rally for change, the call to reckon with Iran’s troubling execution practices grows louder and more pressing.
Original Source: www.dw.com
