Iran executed at least 975 people in 2024, marking a frightening surge in capital punishment cases, according to a joint report released on Thursday by Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway, and French group Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).

This figure represents the highest number of executions since 2008, with a 17% increase from the 834 executions in 2023. The groups accuse Iran of using the death penalty as a tool of political repression.

Daily Executions Amid Growing Iran-Israel Tensions

The report highlights that during the final three months of 2024, as tensions with Israel escalated, Iran executed an average of five people per day.

Of the 975 executed, 31 were women and four were publicly hanged. Most executions were carried out inside prison facilities, though public executions remain a method to instill fear, the groups said.

Executions for Protesters and Vague Offenses

Iran ranks as the second-highest executioner globally after China. Following nationwide protests in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini, authorities intensified the use of capital punishment to suppress dissent.

In January 2024, 23-year-old Mohammad Ghobadlou was executed for allegedly killing a police officer during the protests, despite claims of a flawed trial and evidence he suffered from bipolar disorder. Similarly, in August 2024, Gholamreza Rasai, 34, was secretly executed for allegedly killing a member of the Revolutionary Guard, with rights groups alleging his confession was obtained under torture.

Iran’s judiciary often hands down death sentences for a range of charges including murder, drug offenses, rape, and vaguely defined crimes like “acts against national security” or “anti-state activities.”

Calls for International Action

Rights groups argue that Iran's legal system, rooted in Sharia law since the 1979 revolution, is being manipulated to silence political opposition and stifle protests.

Amiry-Moghaddam urged the international community to "take stronger measures" to address Iran’s alarming use of the death penalty.

While the report confirmed the 975 executions, it notes that 39 additional executions remain unverified due to a lack of credible secondary sources.

Context of Repression

Iran's crackdown on dissent intensified after Amini’s death in September 2022, with authorities targeting protesters and activists. Rights groups say the death penalty is being used to suppress freedom of expression and instill fear among the population.