Iran Executed Over 900 People Last Year, Says UN Report; V tejaham Statement Sparks Concerns
GENEVA: A United Nations report reveals that Iran executed over 900 people in 2022 alone, with 40 of those executions occurring in just one week of December. This concerning trend has raised alarm bells among international human rights groups.
W“It’s worrying,” said Volker Turk, the UN Human Rights Office spokesperson, underscoring the increasing number of executions each year. In 2022, Iran hanged 901 people, the highest yearly total since the 1980s, according to Turk. The surge in executions has drawn criticism from global rights groups, who argue that the Islamic Republic is using the death penalty to instill fear in its population.
Criminal offenses, such as murder, drug trafficking, and sexual assault, often result in capital punishment in Iran. Last year, the majority of executions were carried out in connection with drug-related offenses.
The report also highlights a growing trend of women being executed. Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO, reports a significant increase in the number of women put to death. In 2022, Iran executed 31 women, the highest annual total recorded.
After China, Iran remains one of the world’s leading executioners. However, due to secrecy surrounding the Chinese judicial system, the true extent of its use of the death penalty remains unclear.
The spike in executions has sparked severe backlash, with many condemning Iran’s use of the death penalty as a tool to intimidate its population. critics argue that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is resorting to capital punishment to consolidate his power.
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