Iran Executes Over 900 People in 2024, UN Reports

Iran's Alarming Increase in Executions in 2024

The UN reports that Iran executed at least 901 individuals in 2024, the highest number in nine years, representing a 6% increase from the previous year.

Concerning Trends

Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, expressed deep concern over the escalating use of the death penalty in Iran, particularly noting the spike in executions of individuals linked to drug-related offenses and dissent.

Most of the executions were related to drug offenses, but there was also a significant number of dissidents and individuals associated with the 2022 protests who faced the death penalty. Additionally, the number of women executed saw a troubling rise.

International Response

Türk urged Iranian authorities to cease all executions immediately and consider abolishing the death penalty altogether. He emphasized that the death penalty violates fundamental human rights and poses a grave risk of executing innocent individuals.

A spokesperson for the UN human rights office cited various reliable sources, including Iran's Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) and Iran Human Rights (IHR), to compile the data on executions in Iran.

Disproportionate Impact on Minorities

Reports from human rights groups indicated that more than half of those executed in Iran in 2024 belonged to ethnic minorities, with a significant number being Kurds. The crackdown on dissent since the 2022 protests has disproportionately affected ethnic and religious minorities.

Furthermore, there were documented cases of juvenile offenders being executed, a clear violation of international law that prohibits capital punishment for individuals under 18 at the time of their alleged offenses.

Conclusion

The surge in executions in Iran in 2024 raises serious concerns about human rights violations and the misuse of the death penalty. Urgent action is needed to address these alarming trends and uphold international standards of justice and human rights.