Record Surge in Global Executions: Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia Lead in 2024
Amnesty International reported a significant rise in global executions in 2024, totaling 1,518, the highest since 2015. Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia executed 91% of those individuals. The report expresses concerns regarding the use of the death penalty against dissenters and drug-related offenses, calling for continued efforts to abolish capital punishment worldwide.
In 2024, the global execution rate surged to the highest level observed in nearly a decade, totaling 1,518 documented executions, as reported by Amnesty International. This figure marks a 32% increase from the previous year and is the highest since 2015, when 1,634 executions occurred. Notably, these numbers do not account for the thousands believed to have been executed in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam.
According to the annual report by Amnesty International, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for 91% of the recorded executions. Iran alone executed at least 972 individuals, which represents 64% of the global total and reflects an increase of over 100 executions compared to the prior year. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia doubled its executions from 172 to at least 345, and Iraq significantly increased its numbers from a minimum of 16 to at least 63 executions.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, condemned the death penalty as an “abhorrent crime with no place in today’s world.” She highlighted that, despite the increase in executions, the number of countries implementing capital punishment fell to a record low of 15. Callamard further noted that secrecy surrounding executions in certain nations obscures the full extent of the issue.
Amnesty International indicated that some governments are using the death penalty as a tool against dissenters and ethnic minorities. In Iran, authorities continued the use of capital punishment following the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” protests, even executing individuals with mental disabilities. Similarly, Saudi Arabia utilized the death penalty as a method to suppress political dissent and target its Shiite population.
Additionally, the report revealed that 25 executions occurred in the United States in 2024, a sharp rise from just one execution in 2023. Over 40% of global executions were linked to drug offenses, prominently in countries such as China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Amnesty insists that executing individuals for drug crimes violates humanitarian law, asserting that these offenses should not qualify as the “most serious crimes.”
Amnesty also expressed concerns about countries like the Maldives, Nigeria, and Tonga contemplating the reintroduction of capital punishment for drug-related offenses, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso have announced plans to resume executions for regular crimes. Currently, 145 nations have abolished the death penalty or do not practice it.
The statistics on executions in 2024 demonstrate a troubling increase in capital punishment, predominantly driven by Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. While global executions have risen sharply, the number of executing nations has decreased, indicating a complex landscape in the fight against the death penalty. Executions related to drug offenses are also a significant concern, revealing ongoing human rights violations. Continued advocacy is vital to address these issues.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
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