Portraits of slain Iranians are displayed in an area of Esplanades des Invalides in Paris on July 8, 2025, as part of a campaign led by Comite Iran Liberte and Comite de Soutien aux droits de l'homme en Iran (CSDHI) to stop executions in the Islamic republic. (Photo by Delphine TOUITOU / AFP)
NGOCSTIP – Iran has become the center of global concern after the United Nations released alarming data about the use of capital punishment in the country. From January 2025 to August 28 of the same year, more than 800 executions were confirmed. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that the actual number could be even higher due to limited transparency. The rapid increase of executions compared with previous years has raised urgent calls for accountability and reform. In July alone, the executions reached at least 110, double the number from the same month in 2024. This pattern illustrates what human rights advocates describe as systematic use of executions to spread fear and suppress dissent. For international observers, these figures highlight a serious human rights crisis that cannot be ignored. The scale of executions shows a state policy rather than isolated judicial rulings.
Many experts strongly criticize Iran for institutionalizing the reliance on executions. UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that authorities disproportionately target minorities and migrants during executions. Observers view the practice not only as punishment but also as a tool to intimidate communities and silence opposition. Human rights organizations condemn public executions with sharp criticism. Since January, observers have documented at least seven executions conducted in front of crowds. Analysts describe such spectacles as degrading and harmful to public morale. Shamdasani emphasized the psychological trauma that children and adults experience when they witness hangings. The international community continues to increase pressure on Iran to end these practices and adopt alternative judicial approaches. These criticisms intensify tensions between the Iranian government and global institutions that demand an end to what they describe as state-sanctioned intimidation.
The escalation of capital punishment in recent months shows how Iran enforces severe measures against political opposition and social dissent. The UN reported that authorities executed at least 841 individuals in less than eight months. This figure ranks among the highest in the world, showing both the speed and scale of punishment. Critics argue that courts often deliver death sentences after trials that fail to meet international standards of fairness. Some defendants faced charges of violent crimes, while others received convictions for joining protests or for alleged links with opposition groups. Observers note that the government relies on executions as a strategy to maintain control rather than to uphold justice. Analysts warn that this approach risks triggering more unrest and fueling resentment within already marginalized communities. International groups continue to raise their voices, pressing Iran to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty.
Beyond criminal cases, Iran increasingly carries out executions for political reasons. The UN reported that several individuals currently face imminent execution because of their ties to the opposition group Mujahidin e Khalq. Authorities sentenced six people to death for alleged armed rebellion linked to this group. Courts also imposed death sentences on five others who joined mass protests in 2022. Activists argue that these verdicts aim to intimidate society instead of delivering justice. This pattern shows how executions serve as a tool to silence dissenting voices. Iranian courts also handed a death sentence to labor rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, sparking international outrage. Observers see her punishment as retaliation for her activism and as a warning to others. By targeting activists and protesters, Iran raises deep concerns about the state of political freedoms in the country.
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The rising wave of executions has led to urgent calls from the United Nations and human rights organizations for immediate reform. They stress that Iran should reconsider the use of the death penalty, especially in cases involving political dissent or nonviolent offenses. Public executions, which continue to occur, are strongly condemned as degrading and inhumane. The UN has urged Iranian authorities to halt imminent executions, noting that at least eleven people are currently at risk. These include political activists and individuals linked to demonstrations in past years. The pattern of executing ethnic minorities and migrants disproportionately has drawn additional criticism. International diplomatic pressure is likely to intensify as global outrage grows. Observers believe that without decisive changes, Iran will continue to face isolation and condemnation from the broader world community. The urgent demand is for transparency, accountability, and ultimately a shift away from capital punishment as a governing tool.
