Iran executed at least 834 people in 2023, the highest number in eight years, according to a joint report by human rights groups Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM). This staggering number marks the second time in two decades Iran has surpassed 800 executions in a year, the last being in 2015.
The report raises serious concerns about Iran’s use of capital punishment, particularly in the wake of the 2022 protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Rights groups allege the regime has weaponized executions to instill fear and quell dissent.
“Instilling societal fear is the regime’s only way to hold on to power, and the death penalty is its most important instrument,” stated IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
The report details a troubling rise in executions of women, with at least 22 put to death in 2023 – the highest in a decade. Fifteen faced murder charges, raising concerns about women who kill abusive partners or relatives.
Executions linked to the 2022 protests also saw a rise, with nine men targeted so far. However, the report highlights a broader trend – a surge in executions for drug-related offenses. With 471 people hanged on drug charges, this number is a staggering 18 times higher than 2020 figures. ECPM director Raphael Chenuil-Hazan criticized the lack of response by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), arguing it sends a “wrong signal” to Iranian authorities.
The report further condemns the increasing use of public executions, with seven people hanged in public spaces in 2023, a threefold increase from the previous year.