UN reports 43% increase in executions in Iran over the past year

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, expressed concern over the rising number of executions in Iran, stating that at least 834 people were executed in 2023, a 43% increase from the previous year.

The new annual UN report on human rights in Iran was presented at the 56th UN Human Rights Council session.

This report was prepared based on a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly.

The resolution requested the UN Secretary-General to report on the human rights situation in Iran to the Human Rights Council.

The report covers the period from August 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, and is based on NGO reports, media, and UN human rights mechanisms.

The report states that at least 582 executions were estimated in Iran in 2022.

Iran has the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population.

The Iran Human Rights Organization had previously confirmed 834 executions in Iran in 2023.

The UN Secretary-General remains concerned about the increased application of the death penalty in Iran for a wide range of crimes, including drug-related offences.

Guterres noted that 471 of the 2023 executions (56%) were for drug-related crimes, marking an 84% increase from 2022.

He emphasized that 2023 saw the highest number of drug-related executions in Iran since 2015.

Guterres expressed distress over reports of discrimination, harassment, and punishment that women and girls in Iran face daily.

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