PARIS: In a joint report released on Tuesday by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty, it was revealed that Iran executed at least 834 individuals in 2023, marking the highest number since 2015. The executions increased by approximately 43% compared to 2022, and this is the second time in two decades that over 800 executions were reported in a single year.
The report suggests that the surge in capital punishment is linked to the Iranian government’s efforts to instill fear in society, following protests triggered by the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Notably, the execution of nine men involved in attacks on security forces during the 2022 protests was highlighted, with two executed in 2022, six in 2023, and one in 2024, according to the rights groups.
An alarming escalation in drug-related executions was noted in 2023, with 471 people executed, over 18 times higher than figures recorded in 2020. Members of ethnic minorities, particularly the Sunni Baluch from southeast Iran, were disproportionately represented in these cases, accounting for 20% of the total executions in 2023, despite constituting only around 5% of the population.
The report also emphasized the lack of international reaction, particularly from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and expressed concerns that the executions could escalate further without stronger condemnation from the international community. The increase in public hangings and the execution of 22 women, the highest in a decade, were also highlighted as alarming trends.
The Iran Human Rights (IHR) director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, expressed concern that the lack of international outrage might encourage further executions by the Iranian authorities. The report pointed out that only 15% of recorded executions in 2023 were announced by official Iranian media, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
The findings underscore the urgent need for international attention and condemnation to address the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.