Capital punishment in Iran

Executions in Iran 2007–2018 (Official, true number probably higher due to unreported cases. From 2015 onward, some established unreported cases have been taken into account as well.)^[1]

Capital punishment is a legal punishment in Iran.^[2]

The list of crimes punishable by death includes murder; rape; child molestation; homosexuality; drug trafficking; armed robbery; kidnapping; terrorism; burglary; incest; fornication; adultery; sodomy; sexual misconduct; prostitution;^[3]^[4] plotting to overthrow the Islamic government; political dissidence; sabotage; arson; rebellion; apostasy; blasphemy; extortion; counterfeiting; smuggling; recidivist consumption of alcohol; producing or preparing food, drink, cosmetics, or sanitary items that lead to death when consumed or used; producing and publishing pornography; using pornographic materials to solicit sex; capital perjury; recidivist theft; certain military offences (e. g., cowardice, assisting the enemy); "waging war against God"; "spreading corruption on Earth"; espionage; and treason.^[5]^[6] Iran carried out at least 977 executions in 2015, at least 567 executions in 2016,^[7] and at least 507 executions in 2017.^[8] In 2018 there were at least 249 executions, at least 273 in 2019, at least 246 in 2020, at least 290 in 2021, at least 553 in 2022, and at least 309 so far in 2023.^[9]^[10]

Despite international requests for his release, the Iranian government executed a British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari in January 2023, who once served as Iran's deputy defense minister. The execution was condemned by the UK and Prime minister Rishi Sunak, who referred to it as politically motivated and a "callous and cowardly act" carried out by a "barbaric regime."^[11]

State-sanctioned executions have witnessed a rapid spike in numbers during 2023. In May 2023 alone, Iran executed at least 142 individuals, its highest monthly rate since 2015. At least 30 of those killed were from the predominantly Sunni Baluch ethnic minority.^[12]^[13]

Iran is believed to execute the most people per capita.^[14] Iran insists that the execution numbers human rights groups allege are "exaggerated," and that executions are only carried out "after a lengthy judicial process." Iranian officials cite that they are "fighting a large-scale drug war along its eastern borders, and the increase of drug lords and dealers causes a rise in executions." According to the BBC, Iran "carries out more executions than any other country, except China".^[15]

^ "Death sentences and executions 2007-2020". Amnesty International. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^ "China Leads Death List as # of Executions Around the World Soars Archived 25 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine", Common Dreams NewsCenter, 5 April 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2006.
^ "Iran - Facts on Trafficking and Prostitution". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
^ "NTC - Bancadati. Iran". Hands Off Cain. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
^ "The Death Penalty in Iran". Death Penalty Worldwide. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
^ "Iran/death penalty" p4. International Federation for Human Rights. Last accessed 19 February 2011.
^ "Death sentences and executions in 2016". amnesty.org. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
^ "The Death Penalty in 2017: Facts and Figures". Amnesty International. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
^ "Database". Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
^ "Iran Human Rights". Iran Human Rights. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
^ "Iran executes British-Iranian on spying charges". DAWN.COM. Reuters. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^ "At Least 142 Executed in May; 307 Executions in 2023". 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
^ "Iran executed over 300 people in 2023, highest in May since 2015". Al Arabiya News. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
^ "Capital punishment: On the way out—with grisly exceptions". The Economist. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
^ "Iran halts execution of three protesters after online campaign". BBC.

[1] "Death sentences and executions 2007-2020". Amnesty International. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.

[2] "China Leads Death List as # of Executions Around the World Soars Archived 25 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine", Common Dreams NewsCenter, 5 April 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2006.

[IP1-3] "Iran - Facts on Trafficking and Prostitution". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2017.

[IP2-4] "NTC - Bancadati. Iran". Hands Off Cain. Retrieved 28 October 2017.

[DPW_Iran-5] "The Death Penalty in Iran". Death Penalty Worldwide. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2017.

[fidh-6] "Iran/death penalty" p4. International Federation for Human Rights. Last accessed 19 February 2011.

[7] "Death sentences and executions in 2016". amnesty.org. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.

[8] "The Death Penalty in 2017: Facts and Figures". Amnesty International. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.

[9] "Database". Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

[10] "Iran Human Rights". Iran Human Rights. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

[11] "Iran executes British-Iranian on spying charges". DAWN.COM. Reuters. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.

[12] "At Least 142 Executed in May; 307 Executions in 2023". 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.

[13] "Iran executed over 300 people in 2023, highest in May since 2015". Al Arabiya News. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.

[14] "Capital punishment: On the way out—with grisly exceptions". The Economist. Retrieved 3 July 2015.

[15] "Iran halts execution of three protesters after online campaign". BBC.

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