Iran's Escalating Executions In 2024: A Deep Dive Into Human Rights

Shany Raynor 22 Jun 2025

The landscape of human rights in Iran continues to be a grave concern for the international community, particularly with the alarming surge in capital punishment. In 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran has demonstrated a disturbing escalation in its use of the death penalty, a trend that has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and global bodies alike. This article delves into the grim reality of executions in Iran in 2024, examining the statistics, the methods, the profiles of those executed, and the broader implications for justice and human dignity.

The sheer volume of executions recorded this year paints a stark picture of a nation increasingly relying on capital punishment, often in ways that flagrantly violate international human rights standards. As we dissect the available data, it becomes clear that this is not merely a continuation of past practices but an intensification, reflecting a deeply troubling trajectory for human rights within the country. Understanding the nuances of this crisis requires a close look at the numbers, the legal framework, and the brave voices rising in protest against this wave of state-sanctioned killings.

Table of Contents:

The Alarming Numbers: A Year of Escalation
A Disturbing Trend: Compared to Previous Years
- The 2023 Prelude to 2024
The Method and Public Display of Capital Punishment
Violations of Fair Trial and Due Process Rights
The Vulnerable Among the Executed: Women and Minors
Targeting Specific Groups: Political Prisoners and Afghan Nationals
- Political and Religious Dissidents
- The Plight of Afghan Citizens
The Courage of Resistance: "No to Execution Tuesdays"
International Condemnation and Calls for Action
- UN Warnings and Concerns
- Demands for International Consequences
Conclusion: A Call for Global Solidarity

The Alarming Numbers: A Year of Escalation

The year 2024 has witnessed an unprecedented scale of executions in Iran, marking a deeply concerning intensification of capital punishment. According to the 17th annual report on the death penalty in Iran, compiled by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and ECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty), the figures for 2024 are among the highest recorded in recent history. As of the latest available data, at least 975 people were executed in 2024, representing a significant 17 percent increase compared to the 834 executions reported in 2023. Other reports corroborate this grim picture, with some indicating that almost 1,000 people were executed in Iran in 2024, while the UN Human Rights Chief cited at least 901 people reportedly executed last year, including about 40 in a single week in December.

The pace of these executions has been relentless. By as early as March 20, 2024, at least 95 recorded executions had already taken place, signaling Iran’s continuing "killing spree" into the new year. This rapid rate has only accelerated throughout the year, culminating in the staggering final figures. What is particularly alarming is the vast discrepancy between officially announced executions and the actual numbers. Only 95 executions, or less than 10 percent of the total, were officially announced by Iranian authorities. The overwhelming majority, therefore, are carried out in secret, away from public scrutiny, making independent verification challenging but not impossible for diligent human rights organizations. This lack of transparency further exacerbates concerns about due process and accountability, highlighting the clandestine nature of Iran's justice system when it comes to capital punishment. The total number of executions in Iran in 2024 is the highest recorded in nine years, underscoring a consistent and worrying upward trajectory.

A Disturbing Trend: Compared to Previous Years

The surge in executions in Iran in 2024 is not an isolated phenomenon but rather the culmination of a worrying trend that has been escalating over several years. To fully grasp the gravity of the current situation, it is crucial to place the 2024 figures within the broader historical context. The data unequivocally points to a consistent and alarming increase in the use of capital punishment, signaling a deliberate policy choice by the Iranian authorities.

The 2023 Prelude to 2024

The year 2023 served as a grim precursor to the intensified crackdown observed in 2024. The number of executions in 2023 was the highest recorded since 2015, marking a staggering 48% increase from 2022 and an even more alarming 172% increase from 2021. While different reports provide slightly varying figures for 2023, the consensus points to a significant rise. For instance, some reports indicate 834 executions in 2023, while the UN Human Rights Chief cited at least 901 people reportedly executed, including about 40 in a single week in December. Another report noted at least 853 executions in 2023. Regardless of the precise number, the message is clear: the rate of executions was already on a steep upward curve. This sharp rise brought the total executed in Iran in the last decade to around five thousand people, according to Amnesty International, among them at least 57 children. This historical context underscores that the current wave of executions in Iran in 2024 is not a sudden anomaly but a continuation and acceleration of a deeply entrenched and worsening human rights crisis.

The Method and Public Display of Capital Punishment

In Iran, executions are predominantly carried out by hanging, a method widely condemned by international human rights bodies as cruel, inhuman, and degrading. The use of hanging itself raises serious ethical and humanitarian concerns, but the manner in which some of these executions are conducted adds another layer of barbarity. Disturbingly, a portion of these executions are carried out publicly, serving as a chilling display of state power and a tool for instilling fear within the population. In 2024, at least four of the executions were carried out publicly, a practice designed to send a stark message to potential dissidents and to reinforce the state's authority through terror.

Public executions are a particularly egregious violation of human dignity, transforming a judicial punishment into a public spectacle. They are a direct affront to the principles of human rights and decency, intended to intimidate and suppress dissent rather than to serve any legitimate purpose of justice. The very act of conducting such a profound and irreversible punishment in the public square underscores the regime's disregard for international norms and its determination to use extreme measures to maintain control. This public display of capital punishment, alongside the sheer volume of executions in Iran in 2024, contributes to an environment of pervasive fear and repression, further eroding the fundamental rights of its citizens.

Violations of Fair Trial and Due Process Rights

A cornerstone of any just legal system is the guarantee of fair trial and due process rights. However, in Iran, these fundamental principles are routinely and systematically violated, particularly in cases involving capital punishment. The United Nations and various human rights experts have voiced grave concern over these serious violations, emphasizing that the death penalty, as currently practiced in the Islamic Republic of Iran, is fundamentally flawed and unjust. Reports from September 3, 2024, highlighted these concerns, urging Iranian authorities to halt the use of the death penalty altogether due to these systemic issues.

The lack of fair trial standards means that individuals facing the death penalty are often denied access to independent legal counsel, subjected to confessions extracted under torture, and tried in opaque revolutionary courts that lack impartiality. Evidence obtained through coercion is frequently admitted, and defendants are often not informed of the charges against them or given adequate time to prepare a defense. This absence of due process renders many, if not all, death sentences arbitrary and a clear violation of international law. When the judicial process itself is compromised, every execution becomes a potential extrajudicial killing, stripping individuals of their most basic rights and denying them any semblance of justice. This systemic failure in upholding fair trial and due process rights casts a dark shadow over every single one of the executions in Iran in 2024, making them not just statistics, but profound injustices.

The Vulnerable Among the Executed: Women and Minors

The alarming surge in executions in Iran in 2024 has not spared the most vulnerable segments of society, including women and juvenile offenders. The data reveals a deeply disturbing pattern of targeting these groups, highlighting the indiscriminate and severe application of capital punishment by the Iranian authorities. Since the beginning of 2024, the number of women executed in Iran has amounted to 22, a figure that underscores the disproportionate impact of these policies on women. Eleven of these executions were carried out during Masoud Pezeshkian’s term, indicating that the trend persists regardless of specific political leadership, reflecting a systemic issue within the judiciary.

Even more horrifying is the execution of juvenile offenders, individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes. International law strictly prohibits the execution of minors, yet Iran continues to violate this fundamental principle. In one particularly chilling report for a single month, among 135 individuals executed, there was 1 juvenile offender, alongside 4 women and 127 men. Amnesty International's broader analysis revealed that among the approximately five thousand people executed in Iran over the last decade, at least 57 were children. These executions are not only a violation of international human rights treaties, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but also a profound moral outrage. The targeting of women and minors for capital punishment exemplifies the extreme and inhumane nature of the executions in Iran in 2024, drawing widespread condemnation and calls for urgent intervention from the global community.

Targeting Specific Groups: Political Prisoners and Afghan Nationals

The wave of executions in Iran in 2024 extends beyond general criminal offenses, explicitly targeting individuals based on their political or religious activities, and disproportionately affecting foreign nationals, particularly Afghan citizens. This selective application of the death penalty serves as a tool of political repression and a stark reminder of the discriminatory practices within Iran's judicial system.

Political and Religious Dissidents

Among those executed, a significant number were sentenced to death for political or religious activities, or for alleged participation in popular protest movements. For instance, 13 individuals were sentenced to death for political or religious activities or for alleged participation in the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. These individuals are often labeled as "enemies of God" or accused of "spreading corruption on Earth," charges that are vaguely defined and broadly applied to suppress dissent. The use of capital punishment against political prisoners and activists is a clear attempt to silence opposition and quell any form of resistance to the ruling establishment. It sends a chilling message to anyone considering challenging the status quo, effectively using the ultimate penalty to enforce political conformity. The targeting of these individuals highlights the political nature of many of the executions in Iran in 2024, transforming legal proceedings into instruments of state control.

The Plight of Afghan Citizens

The surge in executions also extends to Afghan citizens residing in Iran, who often face heightened vulnerability due to their legal status and socio-economic conditions. Human rights groups have reported that at least 49 Afghan nationals have been executed in Iran this year, with a particularly high number of 13 in October alone. In one specific month, among 135 individuals executed, 11 were Afghan citizens. Many Afghan nationals in Iran are refugees or undocumented migrants, often working in low-wage jobs and lacking proper legal protections. They are frequently arrested on drug-related charges, which carry the death penalty in Iran, often without fair trials or adequate legal representation. The disproportionate execution rate among Afghan citizens underscores a deeply concerning pattern of discrimination and exploitation, where a vulnerable population is subjected to the harshest penalties without due process. This aspect of the executions in Iran in 2024 reveals a layer of systemic injustice that preys on the most marginalized within society.

The Courage of Resistance: "No to Execution Tuesdays"

In the face of this escalating wave of executions, a powerful and poignant campaign of resistance has emerged from within the very prisons where these atrocities are committed. Since January 2024, death row prisoners in Iran have embarked on a collective hunger strike every Tuesday, as part of what has become known as the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign. This courageous initiative is a direct and desperate protest against the relentless wave of capital punishment sweeping across the country. It is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, even when faced with the most dire circumstances.

The "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign represents a unified voice from those most directly affected by the state's policies. By refusing food, these prisoners are not only risking their own health but also drawing crucial attention to their plight and the injustices they face. Their actions are a desperate plea for recognition, for justice, and for an end to the executions that threaten their lives and the lives of countless others. This movement highlights the deep-seated opposition to the death penalty within Iran, not just from activists and lawyers on the outside, but from those who are literally living under its shadow. It underscores the profound human cost of the executions in Iran in 2024 and serves as a powerful symbol of resistance against an oppressive system, urging the world to pay attention and act.

International Condemnation and Calls for Action

The escalating number of executions in Iran in 2024 has not gone unnoticed by the international community. Human rights organizations, intergovernmental bodies, and individual nations have consistently voiced their grave concerns, issuing strong condemnations and urging Iranian authorities to halt the use of the death penalty. The consensus among these actors is clear: Iran's practices are in flagrant violation of international human rights law and fundamental principles of justice.

UN Warnings and Concerns

The United Nations has been particularly vocal in its criticism. In his November 2023 report to the United Nations General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of an "alarming" growth in the number of executions in Iran, setting the stage for the intensified concerns in 2024. This warning was reiterated and amplified by UN experts on September 3, 2024, who voiced grave concern over the sharp rise in executions, specifically citing "reports of serious violations of fair trial and due process rights." They explicitly stated that "the death penalty as it is currently practiced in the Islamic Republic of Iran" is deeply problematic due to these systemic flaws. These repeated warnings from the highest levels of the UN underscore the severity of the situation and the international community's recognition that Iran's judicial system is failing to meet basic standards of justice, making every execution a potential human rights violation.

Demands for International Consequences

Beyond mere condemnation, rights activists and lawyers are increasingly demanding concrete international consequences for Iran's actions. While lawyers and activists protest against the wave of executions within Iran, rights activists globally are demanding that the international community move beyond statements and impose tangible repercussions. These demands often include targeted sanctions against officials involved in human rights abuses, increased diplomatic pressure, and greater scrutiny of Iran's human rights record in international forums. The calls for accountability stem from the belief that without significant international pressure, the Iranian authorities will continue their current trajectory of increased executions. The scale of executions in Iran in 2024, described by rights groups as a "horrifying escalation," necessitates a robust and unified international response to compel Iran to adhere to its international obligations and respect the fundamental human right to life.

Conclusion: A Call for Global Solidarity

The data from 2024 paints a chilling picture of a nation where capital punishment is not only prevalent but is escalating at an alarming rate, often applied in violation of international law and fundamental human rights. With at least 975 people executed, marking a significant increase from previous years, and with a disproportionate impact on women, minors, political dissidents, and Afghan nationals, the crisis of executions in Iran in 2024 demands urgent and sustained global attention. The systemic disregard for fair trial and due process rights, coupled with the secretive nature of most executions and the horrifying practice of public hangings, reveals a justice system that operates with impunity and a profound lack of transparency.

Yet, amidst this darkness, there are glimmers of hope in the courageous resistance movements, such as the "No to Execution Tuesdays" campaign, demonstrating the unwavering spirit of those fighting for justice from within Iran's prisons. These voices, alongside the tireless efforts of human rights organizations and the increasing condemnation from the international community, serve as a beacon for change. It is imperative that the world continues to amplify these voices, exert pressure on the Iranian authorities, and demand an immediate halt to these executions. The fight against capital punishment in Iran is a fight for universal human dignity and justice. We invite you to share your thoughts on this critical issue in the comments below, and to share this article to raise awareness about the profound human rights challenges posed by executions in Iran in 2024. Your engagement can help shine a light on these injustices and contribute to the global call for an end to this horrifying escalation.

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