Iran’s executions surge: 975 Lives lost in shocking crackdown

Iran executed 975 people in 2024, marking a sharp rise in capital punishment, according to two human rights groups. Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and French group Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) called it the highest number since IHR began tracking executions in 2008.

The groups accused Iran of using executions as a tool of political oppression. “These executions are part of the Islamic republic’s war against its own people to maintain its grip on power,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. The last three months of 2024 saw an average of five executions per day as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated.

This total marked a 17% increase from the 834 executions recorded in 2023. Of those executed, four people were hanged in public, and 31 were women—the highest number in 17 years.

Executions Over Protests

Iran remains the world’s second-highest executioner after China. Human rights groups claim the government uses the death penalty to instill fear, especially after the 2022 protests. Iran’s judicial system, based on Sharia law, allows capital punishment for murder, rape, and drug offenses. However, vague charges like “corruption on earth” and “rebellion” often target dissidents.

Most executions take place in prison yards, though public hangings still occur. In 2024, Iran executed two people linked to the protests that followed Mahsa Amini’s death in September 2022.

Authorities executed Mohammad Ghobadlu, 23, in January 2024 for allegedly killing a police officer with a car during an October 2022 protest. Rights groups condemned his trial, citing ignored defense evidence of bipolar disorder.

Gholamreza Rasaei, 34, was executed in August 2024 in secret. He was accused of killing a Revolutionary Guard during a protest. Activists said authorities forced his confession through torture.

More Unreported Executions?

Human rights groups believe Iran may have executed more people than officially reported. They suspect 39 additional executions took place in 2024 but could not verify them with second sources.

So far in 2025, Iran has executed at least 121 people, according to IHR.