Iran Executions Surge 68% in 2025, Reaching 36-Year High
A joint report by the Iranian Human Rights Organization and Together Against the Death Penalty reveals that Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, marking a 68 percent increase from the previous year and the highest figure in 36 years. The data indicates an average of more than four executions daily, with 48 women among the victims. Nearly half of those executed were convicted of drug-related crimes, while others faced charges of espionage or collaboration with Israel following the recent 12-day war. Human rights experts assert that the death penalty is being utilized as a political tool to suppress dissent and instill fear amidst ongoing protests linked to the National Revolution. Ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds and Balochs, are disproportionately affected. The report warns that if the current regime survives its crisis, executions may intensify further as a method of control. Specific cases cited include individuals arrested during protests and those accused of ties to opposition groups, highlighting the systematic use of capital punishment to maintain authority and silence marginalized communities within the Islamic Republic.
Wire timeline
Iran Executions Surge 68% in 2025, Reaching 36-Year High
A joint report by the Iranian Human Rights Organization and Together Against the Death Penalty reveals that Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, marking a 68 percent increase from the previous year and the highest figure in 36 years. The data indicates an average of more than four executions daily, with 48 women among the victims. Nearly half of those executed were convicted of drug-related crimes, while others faced charges of espionage or collaboration with Israel following the recent 12-day war. Human rights experts assert that the death penalty is being utilized as a political tool to suppress dissent and instill fear amidst ongoing protests linked to the National Revolution. Ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds and Balochs, are disproportionately affected. The report warns that if the current regime survives its crisis, executions may intensify further as a method of control. Specific cases cited include individuals arrested during protests and those accused of ties to opposition groups, highlighting the systematic use of capital punishment to maintain authority and silence marginalized communities within the Islamic Republic.
ایران اینترنشنال