The number of executions in Iran surged to 901 in 2024, marking the highest total since 2015, according to a report released by the UN human rights office on Tuesday. Among those executed were 31 women, many of whom had been convicted of murdering their husbands under circumstances involving domestic abuse or forced marriages.
The majority of executions were for drug-related offenses, but individuals accused of political dissent and connections to mass protests in 2022 were also targeted, the report noted. These protests, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code, were among the largest since the 1979 revolution.
“This escalating wave of executions is deeply alarming,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “Iran must take immediate steps to halt this troubling trend.”
The 2024 figure, up from 853 executions in 2023, underscores the continued use of capital punishment in the country. UN spokesperson Liz Throssell highlighted that the execution of 31 women last year was the highest in at least 15 years, with many cases tied to domestic violence and forced or child marriages.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s reformist president elected in July 2024, had pledged during his campaign to improve protections for women and minority groups. However, the rising number of executions raises questions about the fulfillment of these promises.
