IHRNGO Warns of New Wave of Post-Election Executions: at Least 249 Executions in 6 Months in Iran

January-June executions at a glance:

• At least 249 people were executed in the first six months of 2024
• Only 26 (10%) were announced by official sources
• 90% of the executions were not reported by the authorities
• At least 147 people (59%) were executed for drug-related charges
• At least 86 people were executed for murder charges
• At least 14 people were executed for the security-related charges of moharebeh (enmity against god), efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) and baghy (armed rebellion)
• Of those, 5 men were executed for espionage for Israel
• 4 Sunni-Kurdish men were executed  
• At least 2 people were executed for rape charges
• At least 10 women executed (6 for drug offences and 4 for murder)
• At least 35 Baluch and 14 Kurds were executed
• At least 15 Afghans and an Iraqi national were executed

According to data gathered by Iran Human Rights, at least 249 people were executed in the first six months of 2024, a 30% decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 354 executions were recorded. 261 executions were recorded in the same period in 2022.

The relative decrease in the number of executions compared to the last two years is due to the parliamentary and presidential elections. According to IHRNGO’s recorded execution trends over the last two decades, execution rates typically decrease in the two weeks prior to the elections. This is to encourage people to participate in the elections. 

Only 26 of the 249 recorded executions were reported by official sources, the remaining 223 were confirmed by IHRNGO through two independent sources.

Of the 249 recorded executions, 147 were for drug-related charges, 86 for murder, 14 were for the security-related charges of efsad-fil-arz, moharebeh and baghy, and 2 for rape charges.

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. However, there has been a 30% decrease compared to the same period last year when 206 were executed for drug-related charges. 91 drug executions were recorded for the same period in 2022.

The disproportionate execution of Baluch minorities continued in 2024, with at least 35 executed for drug-related and murder charges, 14% of all executions. This is while they constitute 2-6% of Iran’s population.

It is important to note that IHRNGO statistics of unofficially recorded executions only include those it has been able to verify through two sources independently of each other. As such, the real number of executions is certainly higher.