Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director, Hussein Baoumi, issued a strong call to UN member states this Thursday, urging them to confront Iranian authorities over the alarming rise in the use of the death penalty. Since the beginning of 2025, Iran has executed over 1,000 individuals, a rate unprecedented since 1989. Baoumi highlighted the "weaponization" of capital punishment, particularly following the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, as a means to instill fear and suppress dissent.

The surge in executions is part of what Baoumi describes as an attempt by Iranian authorities to "normalize" the annual execution of hundreds. Those targeted often include marginalized communities and are frequently convicted on vague or politically motivated charges such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth.” Amnesty International criticized these trials as "grossly unfair," often conducted in Revolutionary Courts that lack independence and are intertwined with Iran’s security and intelligence sectors.

Iran's death penalty practices not only disproportionately affect lower socioeconomic groups and ethnic minorities, including Afghans, Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchis, and Kurds, but also violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This treaty, to which Iran is a party, stipulates that the death penalty should only be imposed for the "most serious crimes" and mandates a fair trial.

Despite these regulations, the current use of the death penalty in Iran frequently fails to meet these international standards. Furthermore, the treaty ensures the right of those sentenced to death to seek a pardon or commutation, a provision that is often overlooked in Iranian courts.

The recent spike in executions has drawn global concern. In September, UN experts labeled the surge a significant escalation that breaches international human rights laws. Iran remains one of the few countries, alongside Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia, confirmed to execute individuals for drug-related offenses as of 2024.

This distressing trend underscores the urgent need for international intervention. As global executions hit their highest levels since 2015, the international community, led by UN member states, faces a critical challenge in addressing and halting these violations of human rights in Iran.