n a deeply alarming statement on January 7, 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed grave concern over the rising number of executions in Iran. According to his office, at least 901 individuals were executed in the country last year—marking the highest number since 2015. Among those executed were 31 women, a tragic milestone not seen in the past 15 years.
Türk described the execution trend in Iran as “deeply disturbing,” highlighting the urgent need for the regime to put an end to the wave of state-sanctioned killings. “It is high time that Iran halts this ever-increasing surge of executions,” he declared. He reiterated that the death penalty is incompatible with the fundamental right to life and carries the unacceptable risk of executing innocent individuals.
Executions Target Political Dissidents and Protesters
The UN report emphasized that Iran’s regime has used executions as a tool to silence dissent. Dissidents and individuals involved in the 2022 anti-regime protests have been among those executed. The protests, which called for freedom and human rights, were met with harsh crackdowns by the authorities.
Volker Türk called on the Iranian government to impose an immediate moratorium on executions, urging them to work toward the complete abolition of the death penalty. The Commissioner stressed that capital punishment is a cruel and inhumane practice that has no place in modern society.
Iran’s Disturbing Execution Statistics
Iran remains the country with the highest number of executions per capita worldwide. The death penalty is widely used by the Tehran regime as an instrument of repression, aiming to deter further protests and maintain its grip on power. Thousands of prisoners in Iran are currently at risk of execution, including political prisoners who have been sentenced to death on fabricated and baseless charges.
The UN’s call for action highlights the urgency of standing up against Iran’s oppressive tactics. Human rights organizations, charities, and activists worldwide are urging governments and international bodies to take concrete measures to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses.