Iran Records Highest Execution Rates in 30 Years

In 2024, Iran reached a staggering peak in execution numbers, marking the highest rates witnessed in three decades. According to Iranian opposition media, a total of 997 individuals were executed last year, signifying a 16% increase from 2023. Human rights advocates suggest the true numbers may be even higher due to unreported cases stemming from remote prisons and a lack of transparency within the judicial system.

Reports indicate that 170 executions occurred in October alone, with the majority—941 of the 997 executed—being men incarcerated in prisons. The figures also include 34 women, 9 juvenile offenders, and 9 political prisoners. Concerns are raised about the arbitrary nature of the regime’s justice, where actions as minor as a woman's improperly worn hijab can lead to imprisonment.

Notably, after a leadership change to President Masud Pseschkian, often deemed "moderate" from the outside, a significant rise in executions—695 since July—has challenged this perception. The regime continues to employ extreme punitive measures, including torture, lashings, and amputations, alongside mass incarcerations with over 15,000 individuals reportedly imprisoned.

The escalating unrest among the populace, exacerbated by a faltering economy, fuels the government's severe crackdown as it grapples with widespread dissatisfaction among Iranians.