Iran executed at least 975 people in 2024, a 17% increase from 2023: Report

• Iran executed nearly a thousand people last year in what is described as a “horrifying escalation” of its use of capital punishment, according to a pair of human rights watchdogs. The joint report from Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty shows an increase from numbers released last month by the U.N. human rights watchdog.
• The U.N.’s report revealed 901 people were executed by Iran last year, while the latest findings indicate at least 975 people died by government-sanctioned killings in 2024.
• Thursday’s joint report accuses Tehran of using the death penalty as a means to silence political activists and of waging “war against its own people.”

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Iran executed nearly a thousand people last year in what is described as a “horrifying escalation” of its use of capital punishment, according to a pair of human rights watchdogs.

The joint report published on Thursday, Feb. 20, from Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty shows an increase from numbers released last month by the U.N.’s human rights watchdog.

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The U.N.’s report revealed 901 people were executed in Iran last year, while the latest findings indicate at least 975 people died by government-sanctioned killings in 2024.

What is Iran accused of?

Thursday’s joint report accuses Tehran of using the death penalty as a means to silence political activists and of waging “war against its own people.”

The human rights groups say, on average, five people a day were killed by execution in the last three months of 2024.

Last year’s numbers are a 17% increase from 2023, which saw 834 executions, according to the report. Of the 975 killed, four died by public hangings, and 31 were women, both the highest figures in nearly 20 years.

Where does Iran rank for executions?

The human rights groups say Iran executes the most people behind China, but Beijing’s numbers are not publicly disclosed.

The groups say crimes punishable by death include murder, rape, drug offenses and vague charges like “corruption on Earth” and “rebellion,” which human rights advocates say are used to prohibit free speech.

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How is capital punishment used to suppress political speech?

The report notes that two of last year’s killings were linked to nationwide protests in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Police arrested Amini, accusing her of violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.

The joint report said one of the executions linked to the protests was a 34-year-old man who was executed in secret on a charge of killing a revolutionary guard during the 2022 demonstration, though activists say his confession was coerced by torture.

The rights groups said the true number of executions may be even higher, but could not confirm reports of another 39 government killings in 2024.

So far this year, Tehran has executed at least 123 people, according to IHR.