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Iran drives 2025 execution spike, half drug-related

5/19/2026

32 5 Full Breakdown

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Iran Executes

Nearly half of 2025’s recorded executions were for drug-related offenses, indicating a renewed punitive “war on drugs” globally.
Amnesty International recorded 2,707 executions in 2025 across 17 countries, the highest total since 1981 worldwide.
Iran performed at least 2,159 executions in 2025, more than double its 2024 total officially.
Saudi Arabia recorded at least 356 executions, primarily for drug-related crimes in 2025.

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Iran Mass Executions

Iran’s executions made up nearly 80 percent of all documented worldwide deaths in 2025 in total.
Amnesty International recorded 2,159 executions in Iran in 2025, the highest national total that year, according to the rights group.
After June 2025 hostilities with Israel began, Iran carried out 654 executions in the half-year.
Nearly half of Iran’s executions were drug-related, totaling 998 cases, while China’s data were omitted.

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Iran Executes

Nearly half of 2025’s recorded executions were for drug-related offenses, indicating a renewed punitive “war on drugs” globally.
Amnesty International recorded 2,707 executions in 2025 across 17 countries, the highest total since 1981 worldwide.
Iran performed at least 2,159 executions in 2025, more than double its 2024 total officially.
Saudi Arabia recorded at least 356 executions, primarily for drug-related crimes in 2025.

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