UN Member States Urged to Confront Iran Over Rising Executions

Amnesty International has called on United Nations member states to hold Iranian authorities accountable for a dramatic increase in executions in the country. During a briefing on October 19, 2023, Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director, Hussein Baoumi, highlighted that more than 1,000 executions have taken place in Iran since the beginning of 2025. Baoumi characterized the Iranian government’s approach to the death penalty as a form of “weaponization,” aimed at instilling fear and suppressing dissent among its population.

Baoumi noted that the Iranian authorities have sought to “normalize” the execution of hundreds of individuals each year. Since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, the use of the death penalty has intensified, particularly targeting marginalized communities. According to Baoumi, the current rate of executions, averaging around four per day, has not been observed in Iran since 1989.

Concerns Over Unjust Trials and Vague Charges

Amnesty International has criticized Iran for employing the death penalty against individuals accused of vague and politically motivated charges, such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth.” Many of those sentenced also face capital punishment for drug-related offenses, which Amnesty argues do not meet the international legal standards for such severe penalties. The organization asserts that these sentences are typically imposed following “grossly unfair” trials, often conducted by Revolutionary Courts that lack independence and align with Iran’s security and intelligence apparatus.

Communities from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and various ethnic minorities—including Afghans, Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchis, and Kurds—are disproportionately affected by the increase in executions. Baoumi emphasized that this trend reflects systemic discrimination within Iran’s judicial processes.

International Obligations and Increasing Executions

Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which includes provisions aimed at safeguarding the right to life. Article 6 (2) of the treaty specifies that the death penalty may only be applied for the most serious crimes, and only following a final judgment by a competent court. Furthermore, Article 6 (4) grants anyone sentenced to death the right to seek pardon or commutation of their sentence.

In September 2024, UN experts expressed alarm over the surge in executions, indicating that this trend constitutes a significant escalation that breaches international human rights law. Iran remains one of only four countries, alongside Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia, where executions for drug offenses were confirmed in 2024.

Amnesty International’s findings indicate that global executions reached their highest level since 2015 in 2024, underscoring a troubling pattern of state-sanctioned violence against dissidents and vulnerable communities. The organization urges the international community to take immediate action to address these human rights violations.