Executions in Iran rose by 75% in 2022, with at least 582 people put to death as authorities sought to “spread fear” among protesters, campaign groups say.
The figure was the highest since 2015, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).
Their report is based both on official announcements and sources inside Iran.
Most of those executed were convicted of murder or drug charges, but two protesters were hanged in December.
Mohsen Shekari, 22, and Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, were found guilty of the vague national security charge of “enmity against God” following what the report said were “show trials” based on confessions obtained through torture.
Another two protesters were executed at the start of this year, while dozens have reportedly been sentenced to death or charged with capital offences.
The protests swept across the Islamic Republic following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police in Tehran in September for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.
Official and unofficial reports of executions in Iran during 2022. . Official and unofficial reports of executions in Iran during 2021 .
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IHR and ECPM’s annual report on the death penalty in Iran says only 71 of the executions they recorded last year were announced by official sources.
The rest were “unannounced” or “secret” executions that were reported by sources including eyewitnesses, family members, lawyers and people working for prisons or the judiciary, it adds.
Source: bbc.com
