Increase in State Executions in Iran
According to a recent report by the United Nations, Iran has significantly escalated the number of state executions this year, nearly doubling the figures from the first half of 2024. The UN Human Rights Office confirmed that at least 612 executions have taken place in 2025.
Notably, minority groups are disproportionately affected by these executions, a pattern highlighted by the UN.
UN Human Rights Director Volkal Türk remarked that there are currently at least 48 individuals on death row, with 12 facing imminent execution.
This alarming rise comes in the wake of Tehran executing two men, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, just the day before the report was released.
Maryam Rajavi of the Iranian Resistance Council condemned these actions, reporting Ehsani’s final words, amplifying the narrative of human rights abuses within the country.
Amnesty International characterized the situation as an execution crisis, indicating that the death penalty is often employed as a means of oppression during what they perceive as a national crisis.
Many of those executed were convicted of drug-related offenses. However, the UN found that some faced vague charges like “corruption on Earth” and “hospitality towards God,” often without fair trials.
Since President Massoud Pezeshkian assumed office in July 2024, there has been a notable increase in executions, reaching over 1,000 in 2024 alone—the highest number in 30 years.
The UN agency has raised concerns that Iran is seeking to expand its use of the death penalty through a new espionage bill that broadened the definition of collaboration with hostile countries.
This legislation could target online communications and interactions with foreign media, a move seen as particularly draconian.
Türk emphasized that such measures pose risks to individuals while underscoring the need to reconsider the approach to the death penalty in Iran. He advocated for a moratorium on all executions, asserting the right to life and human dignity should take precedence.
