By Emran | 2025-03-11

Iran executed at least 975 people in 2024, the highest number recorded since 2008 and the highest number of women in 17 years, according to Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).

Four were put to death in public, and 31 were women. Eighty were Afghans sentenced on various charges, including drug trafficking.

In the last quarter of the year, an average of five people were executed daily.

The figures represent a 17% increase compared to the 834 executions recorded in 2023. So far this year, 121 people have been executed by the Iranian regime.

The rights groups said they believe the number of executions in Iran last year may be even higher, pointing to reports of an additional 39 executions they have not been able to verify.

The rising number of executions has sparked outrage among the Iranian public.

"Executing so many people is horrifying," Zahedan resident Mehdi, 32, told Pishtaz, asking that his full name be withheld.

"Unfortunately, the Iranian regime continues to take the lives of Iranian citizens every day," he added, noting that one of his own friends was executed a few months ago on drug trafficking charges.

"I believe most of those executed, including my friend, were innocent," he said.

"The Iranian security and judicial system arrests and executes young people who participated in protests or criticized the regime under the pretext of drug trafficking, murder and other crimes," he said.

'Fear overwhelms me'

"Nearly 1,000 men and women, young and old, have been hanged by the tyrannical Islamic Republic in just one year," said Mashad resident Mehdi, 36.

"For nearly five decades, the Islamic Republic has been the executioner of the Iranian people, showing no hesitation in killing innocent and defenseless citizens," he told Pishtaz, asking that his full name not be used.

"When I see so many of my fellow countrymen being executed, my heart trembles, and fear overwhelms me."

The regime executes innocent people to instill fear among the population and secure its survival, Mashhad resident Javad, 26, told Pishtaz.

"Most of those executed had no access to a fair trial," he said, asking that his full name be withheld.

"The judicial system of the Islamic Republic does whatever it pleases. Without a doubt, many of those executed were innocent victims of the regime’s oppression and tyranny," he said.

"Not a day passes without us seeing or hearing news of more of our fellow countrymen being executed," he added.

"What are all these executions for? What crimes did these people commit? The ruthless judiciary of the Islamic Republic sends innocent men and women to the gallows."