The human rights website HRANA reported in its latest annual report that at least 883 people were executed in prisons across Iran in 2024, reflecting an 18.3% increase compared to the previous year.
The report, published on December 26, states that during this period, 207 individuals were sentenced to death by the Iranian regime’s judiciary, and the death sentences of 54 individuals were upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to the report, the issuance of death sentences increased by 33.5%, and among those whose genders were specified, 772 were men and 26 were women.
Additionally, five individuals who were under 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, legally referred to as juvenile offenders, were among those executed this year.
Of the executions during this period, four were carried out publicly.
In recent weeks, the rise in executions and the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners in Iran have sparked numerous protests both inside and outside the country.
One of these protests is the hunger strike campaign “No to Executions Tuesdays,” which began in February to halt executions. On Tuesday, December 24, it marked its 48th week across 28 prisons in the country.
According to HRANA’s report, 51.87% of those executed in 2024 in Iran were charged with drug-related offenses, while 40.54% faced murder charges.
Additionally:
- 2.49% were charged with sexual offenses
- 1.81% faced unspecified charges
- 0.7% were charged with “corruption on earth”
- 0.7% were charged with “waging war against God (non-political)”
- 0.57% faced charges of armed robbery
- 0.57% were charged with security offenses including “espionage, terrorism, and bombings”
- 0.57% faced political and security charges of “waging war against God and rebellion”
Among the prisons carrying out executions, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj and Adelabad Prison in Shiraz recorded the highest numbers during this period.
HRANA emphasized that 94% of those executed were put to death secretly, without official or domestic media announcements.
In a previous report marking World Day Against the Death Penalty, HRANA noted that at least 811 individuals were executed in Iran between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024.
The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported that the number of prisoners executed for drug-related offenses has seen a consistent and sharp annual increase over the past four years.
In 2023, compared to 2022—when 256 individuals were executed on drug charges—there was an 84% increase, with 471 executions recorded.
