Iran executed a record 975 people in 2024, the highest since 2015, according to a UN report highlighting widespread human rights abuses. The executions disproportionately affected women, minorities, and political dissidents, while torture, unfair trials, and a crackdown on journalists further underscored Iran’s shrinking space for civil liberties and justice. Here’s a look at the some of the findings of the report.
1 / 8Executions Reach Record High in 2024 | Iran executed at least 975 people in 2024, the highest annual number since 2015, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a United Nations report by Secretary-General António Guterres. This marks a sharp rise from the 834 executions in 2023. Notably, four of these executions were carried out publicly, and all executions were conducted by hanging.
2 / 8Offences Behind the Executions | The majority of those executed were convicted of drug-related offences (52%) and murder (43%). A smaller proportion were executed for sexual offences (2%) and security-related offences (3%).
3 / 8Rise in Women Executed | The number of women executed also rose, with at least 31 women put to death in 2024, compared to 22 in 2023. Among them, 19 were reportedly convicted of murder, including nine women who killed their husbands under circumstances involving domestic violence, forced marriages, or child marriage.
4 / 8Protest-Related Executions | Some of those executed were reportedly connected to the September 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. The UN noted that both men and women involved in these protests were among those executed.
5 / 8Disproportionate Impact on Minorities | A disproportionate number of executions involved individuals from Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities. The report cited the execution of at least 108 Baluch prisoners and 84 Kurdish prisoners.
6 / 8Political Dissidents and Security Charges | At least 31 people, including political dissidents, were executed for national security-related offences such as spying for Israel, according to information received by the UN human rights office.
7 / 8Human Rights Violations | The report highlighted continued reports of torture, arbitrary detention, and unfair trials that failed to meet international legal standards.
8 / 8Crackdown on Press Freedom | Iran also targeted media workers, with at least 125 journalists prosecuted in 2024. Among them, 40 were female journalists who faced prosecution or were summoned for their reporting.
