Iran Sees Surge in Executions, Reaching Highest Level in Decades
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Apr 13
Iran Sees Surge in Executions, Reaching Highest Level in Decades
52 articles · Updated · Euronews · Apr 13
Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest number recorded since 1989, according to human rights groups.
The majority were convicted of drug-related offences or murder, with a sharp increase in executions of women and ethnic minorities reported.
NGOs warn executions are being used as a tool of repression, especially following recent protests and amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
What are the long-term societal impacts of Iran weaponizing the death penalty on its population, particularly ethnic minorities and youth?
With executions surging to a 36-year high in Iran, is the regime's brutality a sign of strength or desperation amidst crises?
As executions continue into 2026, what specific demands for a moratorium will be central to any future US-Iran de-escalation talks?
Beyond condemnation, what concrete actions can the US and its allies take to halt Iran's escalating executions?
Given the "grossly unfair trials" and targeting of minorities, what are the immediate international legal avenues for accountability against Iranian officials?
How do the severe US-Israeli military strikes and economic collapse fuel Iran's internal instability and increased repression?
Iran Executes 1,639 People in 2025, Highest Since 1989, Fueling Global Outcry
Overview
In 2025, Iran executed at least 1,639 people, marking a 68% rise from the previous year and the highest number since 1989. This surge reflects a deliberate state strategy to use the death penalty as a tool of political repression, intensified after the 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising. Ethnic minorities, women, and marginalized groups were disproportionately targeted, often through unfair trials and broad charges like drug offenses. The government's harsh crackdown on nationwide protests in December 2025 further increased the risk of executions as repression. Despite international condemnation and sanctions, prisoners have courageously resisted through the ongoing "No to Execution Tuesdays" hunger strike campaign, amplifying global pressure for change.