Iran's Public Hangings: Unveiling A Brutal Reality
Table of Contents
- The Escalating Crisis of Executions in Iran
- Methods of Execution: The Pervasive Practice of Hanging
- The Alarming Rise of Public Executions
- Women Under the Shadow of the Gallows: A Disproportionate Impact
- Child Offenders and International Law Violations
- The Psychological Toll: Brutalization of Spectators and Society
- International Condemnation and Calls for Action
- The Path Forward: Advocating for Human Rights
The Escalating Crisis of Executions in Iran
Iran's human rights record has long been a subject of international scrutiny, particularly concerning its extensive use of the death penalty. Data reveals a deeply concerning trend: Iran last year carried out more hangings than in previous periods, with numbers reaching alarming highs. For instance, reports indicate a huge surge in executions in the Islamic Republic, with 862 so far in 2024, marking the highest per capita execution rate globally. This escalating number of hangings paints a grim picture of a state increasingly relying on capital punishment as a means of control.Inside the Numbers: A Grim Statistical Overview
The sheer volume of executions is staggering. In recent days alone, there have been 20 executions, with at least 748 executions during Pezeshkian's term. Khamenei’s executioners hanged two prisoners, Pouya Askari and Jafar Fallah, on Sunday, January 12, 2025, in Arak and Semnan, highlighting the relentless pace of these judicial killings. While exact figures are often shrouded in secrecy, human rights organizations work tirelessly to document every reported case. For example, at least 285 executions, including 11 in public, were carried out in the period spanning December 2017 to December 2018. However, experts caution that the real numbers were likely to be much higher as use of capital punishment in Iran is often shrouded in secrecy. The consistent rise in the number of individuals subjected to hanging execution in Iran underscores a deepening crisis that demands urgent global attention.Methods of Execution: The Pervasive Practice of Hanging
Iran carries out executions by hanging, a method widely condemned by international human rights bodies as cruel, inhuman, and degrading. This method is not merely a legal procedure but often a public spectacle, designed to instill fear and demonstrate state power. The process typically involves the condemned being hoisted by a crane or gallows, leading to strangulation or a broken neck. The deliberate choice of such a visible and brutal method for capital punishment, particularly in public settings, reflects a calculated strategy to maximize its deterrent effect on the population. The prevalence of hanging as the primary means of execution in Iran highlights a fundamental disregard for internationally recognized standards of humane treatment.The Alarming Rise of Public Executions
While executions conducted in public with a crane have been rare in recent years, there's a disturbing trend of their resurgence. The diagram above shows public executions since 2008, and notably, since 2022, public executions have started rising, with numbers more than tripling in 2023 compared to 2022. This alarming increase suggests a deliberate policy shift towards more visible and intimidating forms of punishment. Footage of a public hanging in Iran going viral has sparked debates about the ethics of sharing such material, questioning whether social media users are inadvertently sending the wrong message by amplifying the state's intended spectacle. Amnesty International has highlighted that graphic new video footage of a public hanging in Iran this week highlights the brutalisation of both the condemned and those who watch executions. The video provided to Amnesty International was shot on 19 July, and shows the execution by hanging of three men in Azadi Square in the city of Kermanshah, serving as a stark reminder of the barbarity involved.The Role of Cranes in Public Spectacles
The use of cranes in public hangings is particularly chilling. Iran used the same manner of hanging to put down unrest following the disputed 2009 presidential election and the Green Movement protests that followed, demonstrating its historical use as a tool for political suppression. More recently, Majidreza Rahnavard was hanged from a crane amid nationwide protests in Iran, a clear message from the authorities to deter further dissent. Sana Ebrahimi spoke about the reactions on the Iranian streets after the second execution of a protester, indicating the profound impact these public displays have on the populace. The crane transforms the act of execution into a theatrical, highly visible event, ensuring maximum public exposure and psychological impact. This deliberate choice of staging underscores the state's intent to use these public hangings as a powerful, terrifying deterrent against any form of opposition or perceived criminality.Women Under the Shadow of the Gallows: A Disproportionate Impact
One of the most distressing aspects of Iran's execution practices is the disproportionate impact on women. Iran carries out more recorded executions of women than any other country. This alarming statistic points to systemic issues within the Iranian legal and social frameworks that uniquely target women. Many of these women are not hardened criminals but victims of circumstances, often trapped in abusive situations. Growing political executions in Iran now also include women, with reports from December 18, 2024, indicating that amidst a huge surge in executions, the Iranian authorities are now increasingly including women in those it sends to the gallows.Forced Marriages and "Murder": A Cycle of Victimization
Activists say many such convicts are victims of forced or abusive marriages. The tragic reality is that many were child brides hanged for murder of abusive husbands from whom there was no protection. This highlights a critical flaw in the justice system, where women, often lacking legal recourse or protection from domestic violence, are driven to desperate acts and subsequently face the harshest penalty. The state's failure to protect these women from abuse, followed by their execution for defending themselves, represents a profound injustice. This cycle of victimization, where victims of abuse become the condemned, underscores the urgent need for legal reforms and greater protections for women in Iran. The practice of hanging execution in Iran, particularly for women in such vulnerable positions, is a grave violation of human rights.Child Offenders and International Law Violations
Iran's execution of child offenders represents a blatant disregard for international human rights law. In 2024, the Iranian authorities violated their international obligations by executing people for crimes that do not fall into the category of the most serious crimes under international law, carrying out public executions and hanging at least one child offender. International law explicitly prohibits the execution of individuals for crimes committed when they were under the age of 18. Despite being a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran continues to carry out such executions, drawing widespread condemnation from the United Nations and other human rights organizations. The fact that a child offender was subjected to hanging execution in Iran in 2024 is a stark reminder of the country's persistent defiance of global norms and its cruel application of justice.The Psychological Toll: Brutalization of Spectators and Society
Public executions are not just about punishing the condemned; they are also about sending a message to the wider populace. Amnesty International emphasizes that graphic new video footage of a public hanging in Iran highlights the brutalisation of both the condemned and those who watch executions. Witnessing such extreme violence can have severe psychological repercussions on individuals, particularly children, who may be exposed to these horrific scenes. Iran Human Rights warns about the return of public hangings to Iranian streets and urges the international community to deal seriously with this type of execution in Iran, stating that "public hanging is an inhumane, cruel and degrading act that not only victimises the defendant but also the general public." The normalization of such brutality in public spaces erodes societal empathy and contributes to a culture of fear and violence.The Secrecy Shroud: Unrecorded Executions
While official figures for hanging execution in Iran are alarming, the true scale of the problem is likely far greater. The real numbers were likely to be much higher as use of capital punishment in Iran is often shrouded in secrecy. Many executions are carried out in prisons without public announcement or official confirmation, making it incredibly difficult for human rights organizations to track and verify every case. This lack of transparency allows the authorities to operate with impunity, shielding the full extent of their capital punishment practices from international scrutiny. The deliberate secrecy surrounding these executions further complicates efforts to advocate for human rights and hold the Iranian government accountable for its actions.International Condemnation and Calls for Action
The international community, including the United Nations, has consistently condemned Iran's extensive use of the death penalty, particularly its public executions and the execution of child offenders. Iran on Wednesday hanged at least 29 convicts in a single day, including 26 in a group execution in one prison, a rights group said, a day after facing international condemnation for executing a protester. Such mass executions, often carried out after flawed trials and without due process, draw sharp criticism from human rights experts globally. The UN has repeatedly called on Iran to halt all executions and to adhere to its international human rights obligations. The continued practice of hanging execution in Iran, despite these condemnations, highlights the urgent need for more robust and coordinated international pressure.The Path Forward: Advocating for Human Rights
Addressing the crisis of hanging executions in Iran requires a multi-pronged approach from the international community. This includes sustained diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions against officials involved in human rights abuses, and robust support for Iranian civil society and human rights defenders working on the ground. International bodies must continue to document and publicize every instance of execution, ensuring that the true scale of the problem is known. Furthermore, there is a critical need to raise global awareness about the specific vulnerabilities of women and child offenders under Iran's justice system. By amplifying the voices of victims and advocating for fundamental legal reforms, the international community can work towards a future where the brutal practice of hanging execution in Iran becomes a relic of the past, replaced by a system that respects human dignity and upholds international law. In conclusion, the escalating number of hanging executions in Iran, often carried out publicly and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, represents a grave human rights crisis. The systematic violation of international law, coupled with the psychological brutalization of society, demands an urgent and concerted response from global actors. It is imperative that the international community continues to condemn these practices unequivocally and exert maximum pressure on the Iranian authorities to halt all executions, abolish the death penalty, and align its legal system with international human rights standards. We invite you to share your thoughts on this critical issue in the comments below. Your voice can contribute to raising awareness and fostering a global dialogue on human rights in Iran. For more in-depth analyses of human rights issues, please explore other articles on our site.
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