- Global executions reach a ten-year peak
Title: Amnesty International Warns of Global Surge in Executions, Highlighting Middle Eastern Countries
Curation: Stay informed on the alarming increase in worldwide executions and the nations responsible for this escalation, as reported by Amnesty International.
The Shocking Rise in Executions Across the Globe
Last year saw the highest number of recorded executions since 2015, with an unnerving 1,500+ individuals put to death across fifteen countries, as per a report by Amnesty International. This unsettling surge represents a 32% increase from the 1,100+ executions documented in 2023.
The Middle East Leads the Pack: Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia
Among the countries contributing to this grim statistic, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia stand out as the primary culprits, accounting for over 90% of the known executions worldwide in 2024. Specifically, these three nations saw an alarming increase in the death toll, with at least 1,380 fatalities between them, a gigantic leap from the previous year. Iraq witnessed a near fourfold increase in executions, jumping from at least 16 to at least 63, while Saudi Arabia doubled its number to at least 345 executions. Iran executed at least 972 individuals.
"The rise in executions in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia is cause for deep concern," said Julia Duchrow, Secretary General of Amnesty International Germany. "Their callous use of capital punishment silences those who dare to speak out and criticize their systems."
The Myth Buster: The Death Penalty Does Not Deter Crime
Julia Duchrow also slammed statements by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that aggressively pursuing the death penalty would protect American families from violent offenders. "Trump's inflammatory statements continue to perpetuate the myth that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to crime," Duchrow explained. "Numerous studies have debunked this notion, revealing that the death penalty neither prevents crime nor serves as a viable solution in reducing violent acts." In 2024, 25 people were executed in the US.
Controversial Executions in China
China, notoriously secretive about executions, carried out its sentences by shooting or lethal injection in 2024. Officially, the exact number of executions remains unknown, though state media occasionally announces executions in cases that gain significant attention or serve a political purpose. In early 2024, three individuals, including a couple who had thrown two children from a high-rise building in Chongqing in 2020, were executed following state-media announcements.
China's executions often send a political message, as is the case of writer Yang Hengjun, who was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 2024. Yang, a frequent blogger on Chinese politics and critic of the Communist Party, sparked much controversy over his death sentence.
[1] Amnesty International, "Global Executions Reach Highest Level in a Decade"
[2] Associated Press, "Iran Executes At Least 972 People in 2024"
[3] Reuters, "Saudi Arabia Doubles Executions in 2024"
[4] Human Rights Watch, "China: Executions in Secret"[5] The Washington Post, "US Executions Increase in 2024 Despite International Criticism"
- Despite the surge in executions worldwide, some countries, like the United States, reported only 25 executions in 2024, suggesting underreporting of executions may be a prevalent issue in certain regions.
- Amnesty International's report revealed that Middle Eastern countries, specifically Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, accounted for over 90% of the global executions in 2024, highlighting the region's disproportionate contribution to this grim statistic.
- While Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia continue to execute individuals at an alarming rate, Chinese executions remain shrouded in secrecy, with the exact number unknown due to the country's untransparent practices.
