Mass Killing Machine: May witnesses the highest execution rate in Iran in 8 years

Iran carried out 142 death sentences in May alone, the highest number of people executed in a single month in the country since 2015, a human rights group said.

Killing machine

At least 307 people were executed in 2023, an increase of 76% over the same period last year, said the Norwegian-based Iranian Human Rights Organization.

According to Reuters International, the Iranian human rights organization called on the international community to “stop the killing machine of the Islamic Republic with a strong reaction and practical punitive steps.”

“The purpose of the Islamic Republic’s intensification of arbitrary executions is to spread societal fear to prevent protests and prolong its rule,” said Mahmoud al-Ameri Moghaddam, the regulations’ director.
“If the international community does not show a stronger reaction to the current wave of executions, hundreds more will fall victim to their killing machine in the coming months.”

Fifty-nine percent of those hanged this year – 180 people – were executed on drug-related charges, the group said.

Highest rate

“According to the International News Agency, at least 142 people were executed in May, the highest monthly execution rate since 2015.” Of these, 78 people (55%) were executed on drug-related charges, and up to 21% of those executed in May – 30 people – were from Balochistan.

Last month, UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed dismay at the alarmingly high number of executions this year in Iran.

“On average so far this year, more than 10 people are executed every week in Iran,” Türk said.
Human rights groups have warned of a new record that could be the highest in two decades if the current pace continues.

Nearly 1,000 people were executed in Iran in 2015, the highest number in 20 years. This is the same year that Iran signed the nuclear deal with world powers.