Executions in Iran reach close to 1000 within a year

Global Executions: Iran's Shocking Rise to Second-Highest Number, Far Exceeding Peers

Executions in Iran reach nearly 1,000 within a year

Hold onto your seats, folks, because we're diving into a dark corner of humanity – Iran's execution statistics for the year 2024. According to a chilling United Nations report, Iran snatched the runner-up position in global executions, trailing behind only China, with a whopping 975 executions under its belt last year. This distressing figure is a steep incline from the 834 executions reported in 2023 and the highest since 2015.

In case you're wondering, yes, drug-related crimes are the primary culprits behind this grim statistic. Over half of these executions, approximately 52 percent, were triggered by drug-related offenses, with 43 percent attributable to murder, and the remaining 3 percent and 2 percent for security offenses and sexual crimes, respectively.

The irony doesn't stop there, as Iran demonstrated its dark sense of timing by carrying out at least four executions in public. And, just to keep you on the edge of your seat, last week a man was executed in connection with the 2022 mass protests that were all about "Woman, Life, Freedom," according to Iran's justice system. The man was put to death for the offense of "waging war against God."

Amnesty International has weighed in on this grim scene, placing Iran as the second-deadliest nation globally, behind China. It's important to note that most countries have already abolished the death penalty. Let that sink in for a moment.

The UN report doesn't sugarcoat the harsh reality, shedding light on Iran's disproportionate impact on women, minorities (notably Baluch and Kurdish prisoners), and political dissidents. It's all fun and games when you have the power – or is it?

If you thought that’s the end of the story, you’d be wrong. The UN report also points out the disturbing use of harsh corporal punishments, such as amputations, which are disproportionately inflicted upon marginalized and low-income populations amidst Iran’s ongoing economic crisis.

In conclusion, Iran's execution numbers are terrifying, with nearly 1,000 people sentenced to die, the majority due to drug-related crimes and murder. This high execution rate represents a significant global share, especially for drug offenses, prompting the UN to express its concerns about discriminatory application, unfair judicial processes, and executions of vulnerable groups.

The rise of Iran to the second-highest global execution rate is a subject of grave concern in the general-news arena, with community and employment policy discussions potentially addressing these human rights issues. It's disturbing to note that Iran's very high number of executions, particularly those related to drug-offenses, is being criticized by Amnesty International for its disproportionate impact on marginalized and low-income populations, also highlighted in the UN report.