Iran: Over 1,000 Executions Reported in 2024

The Religious Dictator Sets a New Execution Record

According to a statement by the Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the number of recorded executions in 2024 has reached 1,000 prisoners, including 34 women and 7 minors. This figure is unprecedented in the past 30 years. However, due to secret executions, the actual number is likely much higher.

Executions in 2024 have increased by 16% compared to the 864 executions recorded in 2023. According to Amnesty International, 74% of all recorded executions worldwide in 2023 took place in Iran.

The NCRI statement indicates that the rise in executions in 2024 is directly linked to the regime’s crises and failures. 11% of the executions occurred in the first quarter and 17% in the second quarter of the year. These were periods during which the regime was preparing for two elections: parliamentary elections in February and presidential elections in June.

25% of the executions were carried out in the third quarter. However, in the fourth quarter, amidst the regime’s crushing failures in the region and the emergence of severe economic and social crises, the pace of executions accelerated to unprecedented levels. Nearly 47% of the prisoners executed in 2024 were hanged during this period.

Commenting on this, Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian opposition and president-elect of the NCRI, called for all negotiations and deals with the regime to be conditioned on halting executions and torture. She stated: “The wave of barbaric executions in 2024, particularly in the past autumn, is (the regime’s supreme leader Ali) Khamenei’s desperate attempt to prevent the uprisings of an angry population that will settle for nothing less than the complete overthrow of this regime.”

695 Executions Under Pezeshkian’s Presidency

695 executions, almost 70% of the annual total, have taken place since July 30, when Massoud Pezeshkian assumed presidency.

In an October 8 speech, Pezeshkian cynically defended these brutal executions, stating:

“Those who speak of human rights wonder why you execute a murderer.”

Increase in Executions of Women

Among those executed, 34 were women, and 7 were minors who had been convicted of crimes allegedly committed before the age of 18. The average age of the 491 identified victims was 36 years.

Among the executed were 119 Baluch prisoners, members of an impoverished and oppressed ethnic minority. This group was disproportionately targeted compared to the population of other provinces and regions in the country.

Additionally, 4 public executions were carried out in especially brutal ways to instill fear within the society.

The Pretext of Drug-Related Crimes

More than half of the victims (502 prisoners) were executed on drug-related charges. However, following the fall of the Syrian dictator, it was revealed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) controlled massive drug trafficking networks in Syria generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue across the region and the world. Only a fraction of these activities has been exposed.

Amputations and Social Injustice

Another shocking act of cruelty consists of chopping fingers of thieves.  Fingers of two brothers imprisoned in