Full Breakdown
Surge in Executions in Iran: A 2025 Overview
4/14/2026, 10:05:16 PM
Record High Executions Amidst Political Turmoil
In 2025, Iran executed at least 1,639 individuals, marking the highest number of executions since 1989, according to a joint report by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM). This figure represents a staggering 68% increase from the 975 executions recorded in 2024, averaging more than four executions per day. The report highlights that the majority of those executed were convicted of drug-related offenses and murder, with significant numbers also facing charges related to political dissent.
Context of Increased Executions
The surge in executions is closely linked to the Iranian government's response to widespread protests that erupted in January 2026, following a crackdown that reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests. The Iranian authorities have utilized capital punishment as a tool for political repression, particularly against marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities such as Kurds and Baluchis. The report indicates that nearly half of the executions were for drug-related offenses, while at least 57 individuals were executed for security-related charges, including two protesters.
Official Statements and Responses
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHR, emphasized that the Iranian regime is using executions to instill fear and suppress dissent, stating, “By creating fear through an average of four to five executions per day in 2025, authorities tried to prevent new protests and prolong their crumbling rule.” Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, executive director of ECPM, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the death penalty serves as a political tool of oppression, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups.
Criticism and Opposition
Human rights organizations and activists have condemned the Iranian government's use of the death penalty, arguing that it constitutes a violation of human rights and due process. Critics point out that many executions are carried out following "grossly unfair trials," often in Revolutionary Courts, which lack transparency and fairness. The UN has expressed alarm over the spike in executions, suggesting that they may amount to crimes against humanity if part of a systematic attack against civilians.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the reported number of executions stands at 1,639, some sources suggest that the actual figure could be higher due to limited transparency and the Iranian government's lack of disclosure regarding executions. Reports from various human rights organizations indicate that hundreds of detained protesters remain at risk of death sentences, raising concerns about the potential for further escalations in capital punishment.
What's Next?
As the Iranian regime continues to face internal unrest and external pressures, the situation regarding executions remains precarious. Activists warn that if the Islamic Republic survives its current crisis, there is a serious risk that executions will be used even more extensively as a tool of oppression. The international community is urged to prioritize discussions on the abolition of the death penalty in any negotiations with Iran, as the ongoing conflict and political repression continue to shape the country's human rights landscape.
Verbatim Quotes
- “By creating fear through an average of four to five executions per day in 2025, authorities tried to prevent new protests and prolong their crumbling rule,” — Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of Iran Human Rights
- “The death penalty in Iran is used as a political tool of oppression and repression, with ethnic minorities and other marginalised groups disproportionately represented among those executed.” — Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, Executive Director of ECPM
- “If executions form part of a widespread and systemic attack against a civilian population, as a matter of policy, then those responsible – including the judges who impose capital punishment – may be held accountable for crimes against humanity,” — UN Fact-Finding Mission Expert Max du Plessis
The alarming rise in executions in Iran underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to address human rights violations and the use of capital punishment as a means of political control.
