Amnesty International has called on UN member states to challenge Iran over the increased use of the death penalty, describing the situation as a “weaponization” of capital punishment. Since the onset of 2025, Iran has executed over 1,000 individuals, a dramatic increase that Amnesty attributes to an effort by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent and instill fear within marginalized communities, particularly following the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests of 2022. The current rate of executions, averaging four per day, is reminiscent of levels not observed since 1989.
The rights organization highlighted that Iranian authorities continue to carry out executions under vague charges such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth,” in addition to offenses related to drugs. These charges often fall short of international legal standards, which typically reserve the death penalty for the most severe crimes. Trials that lead to these sentences frequently lack fairness, often conducted in Revolutionary Courts that lack independence and appear to work in tandem with Iran’s security and intelligence services.
Notably, Iran’s use of the death penalty disproportionately impacts individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and minority groups, including Afghans, Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchis, and Kurds. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran is obligated under Article 6(2) to impose the death penalty only for the most serious crimes and according to established legal processes. This provision was underscored by UN experts who previously expressed alarm over this surge in executions, warning that it breaches international human rights laws.
Globally, the use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses persists, with Iran among a small group of countries, including Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia, where such executions were confirmed. Data from Amnesty International indicates that 2024 saw the highest global execution rate since 2015. The urgency for UN intervention is underscored by these ongoing practices, as outlined in a recent analysis on JURIST, which called for a collective international response to Iran’s alleged human rights violations.