Executions in Iran to more than double in 2025, IHR reports

The number of executions in Iran in 2025 is expected to more than double compared to the number of executions nationwide in 2024.

The Norway-based Iranian Human Rights Group (IHR) told the BBC that at least 1,500 people had been verified to have been executed as of early December, adding that more executions had taken place since then.

Last year, the International Health Regulations verified 975 executions, but the exact number was never entirely clear as Iranian authorities did not give official figures.

However, the analysis shows that the annual increase is once again significant, and the figures are consistent with data provided by other monitoring organizations.

The Iranian government has previously defended its use of the death penalty, saying it was limited to the “most serious crimes.”

Executions were already rising before mass demonstrations broke out across the country in 2022 over deaths in custody. Massa Amini.

The 22-year-old Kurdish woman was detained by Tehran’s morality police on suspicion of “improperly” wearing a headscarf.

That protest movement was the biggest challenge to the legitimacy of Iran’s theocratic leadership in years.

In response, authorities increased the execution rate from about 520 in 2022 to 832 the following year, based on figures verified by the International Health Regulations.

Some protesters or alleged spies were executed, but 99% were for murder or drug crimes, a rate that has remained constant.

Activists say Iran’s execution rate increases when the regime feels threatened, with the aim of stemming internal opposition by instilling fear in the population.

Facts seem to prove that since 12 days of war There has been another massive surge following June’s conflict with Israel and a major setback for Iran’s proxy presence in the region.