Iranian authorities executed Amirreza Ajam Akrami, who was convicted of murdering lawyer Mahmoudreza Jafar Aghaei, by public hanging in Shahrood on Monday. This marked the first public execution of the year in Iran. The execution sparked significant condemnation from human rights organizations.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran criticized the execution as a breach of international law, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. The organization argued that public executions are inherently degrading and foster a culture of violence. They called on the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable for its continuous violations of human rights. Further commentary from the Center can be found here.
Iran remains among the countries with the highest execution rates worldwide. According to Amnesty International, at least 853 individuals were executed in Iran in 2023. The Baluchi ethnic minority group accounted for a significant proportion of these executions. Amnesty International noted that a substantial number of these executions should not have occurred under international law, highlighting the need for global scrutiny and action. Additional insights are available here.
Human Rights Watch has also called for increased international attention to Iran’s execution practices, urging global leaders to take a stand. Their call to action can be viewed here.
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