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Sharp rise in Iran executions documented
Iran has carried out more than 1,500 executions in 2025, nearly double the number recorded in 2024, according to a Norwegian-based human rights organization. The figures, verified by Iran Human Rights (IHR), reflect a continuing upward trend in the use of the death penalty under the country's theocratic government.
Recorded figures and official silence
IHR told the BBC it had confirmed at least 1,500 executions by early December, with additional cases likely unreported. In 2024, the group verified 975 executions, though the true total remains unclear due to the lack of official government data. The latest figures align with reports from other independent monitoring organizations.
Government justification and protest crackdown
Iran's authorities have defended the death penalty as a tool reserved for "the most severe crimes." However, the increase predates the 2022 nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman detained by morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules. Her death triggered the largest challenge to the regime's legitimacy in years.
In response, executions rose from 520 in 2022 to 832 in 2023, according to IHR. While a small number of executions targeted protesters or alleged spies, 99% were for murder or drug-related offenses-a ratio that has remained consistent.
Executions as a tool of repression
Activists argue that the regime escalates executions during periods of perceived threat, using fear to suppress dissent. The trend appears to have accelerated following the 12-day conflict with Israel in June and setbacks for Iran-backed proxy forces across the Middle East, which have further strained the government's stability.
"The regime uses executions to intimidate the population and prevent opposition," a spokesperson for IHR said.
Regional and international reactions
The surge in executions has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and foreign governments, though Iran has dismissed criticism, citing its judicial sovereignty. With no signs of a policy shift, analysts warn the death penalty will likely remain a cornerstone of the regime's control strategy.
