Iran Records Surge in Executions, Sparking International Concern

Amnesty International highlights over half of the 853 executions in 2023 were for drug-related offenses, amid calls for a global response.

Amnesty International reports a 48% increase in executions in Iran in 2023, with at least 853 people executed, over half for drug-related offenses.
The surge in executions, including of protesters and minorities, is seen as a tactic by Iranian authorities to instill fear and prevent demonstrations.
Iran's anti-narcotics legislation changes in 2017 initially led to a decline in executions, but numbers have dramatically rebounded since.
Among those executed was a 17-year-old, misrepresented as 18 by state media, highlighting concerns over the execution of minors.
Rights groups call for urgent international action to halt the rise in executions and press for a moratorium on the death penalty.