Surge in Executions Marks Iran's Most Deadly Year in Decades

Mon Apr 13 2026 15:24:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A report reveals that Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest rate since 1989, reflecting increasing repression amidst political unrest.

According to a report by Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty, Iran executed 1,639 people in 2025, marking a 68% increase from the previous year. The majority of those executed were convicted of drug-related offenses, followed by murder and security-related crimes. The NGOs highlight concerns that executions could be utilized more extensively as a means of oppression in the wake of recent anti-government protests and ongoing conflicts. The rise in executions includes a worrying trend affecting marginalized groups and suggests potential future escalations in state violence.

Iran executed at least 1,639 people last year, the highest number recorded there since 1989, according to two non-governmental organisations. The total represents an increase of 68% compared to 2024, when 975 executions were recorded, according to a report by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (EPCM).

Most of those hanged were convicted of drug-related offences or murder, but at least 57 were convicted of security-related charges, including two protesters. The NGOs warn that Iranian authorities could use executions even more extensively this year in the wake of January's protests and the situation regarding conflicts with the US and Israel.

Since the onset of protests on 28 February, seven individuals have been executed in connection with the demonstrations that saw thousands of protesters killed and tens of thousands detained during a major crackdown by security forces. Among the executed, six were affiliated with the exiled opposition group, Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK), and one was convicted of espionage for Israel.

Iran has consistently ranked as the world's second most prolific executioner after China, with activists citing that Iran's 2025 figures reflect a disturbing trend of state violence aimed at maintaining control. Last year saw an average of four executions per day, leading to calls for human rights reforms.

Of the 1,639 total executions, data indicated that 795 were related to drug offenses, a 58% increase from 2024, while 747 were for murder, signifying a 79% increase in that category. Alarmingly, 48 women were executed—a 55% rise—also representing the highest recorded in over two decades. Marginalized communities were disproportionately affected, and many sentences were imposed by Revolutionary Courts under unfair trials.

The NGOs caution that the current state of unrest could lead to an escalation in the use of executions as a tool for repression if the Islamic Republic manages to persist through ongoing crises. Reports indicate that 16 individuals sentenced to death in connection with the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' protests remain at risk of execution. Meanwhile, seventeen others are facing imminent death sentences as Iran grapples with both internal dissent and external pressures.