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UN Reports Alarming Increase in Iranian Executions
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has revealed that Iranian authorities executed at least 841 people in the first eight months of 2025, representing a dramatic surge compared to previous years. This figure marks a systematic pattern of using capital punishment as a tool for state intimidation, particularly targeting ethnic minorities and political dissidents.
Ethnic Minorities Disproportionately Targeted
According to the UN report, women, Afghan migrants, and ethnic minorities including Baloch, Kurdish, and Arab citizens have been disproportionately affected by the execution wave. In July 2025 alone, Iranian authorities executed 110 people—double the number from July 2024. The OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that this represents "a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a means of state intimidation."
Political Context and Historical Background
The surge in executions follows the massive 2022 protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly improper hijab wearing. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement that emerged from these protests has faced severe crackdowns, with many participants now facing execution.
International Condemnation and Calls for Action
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called on Iran to impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and work toward complete abolition. "The death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and human dignity," the OHCHR emphasized. However, Iran has consistently ignored such international appeals.
Global Context of Capital Punishment
Iran has long ranked among the world's top executioners. In 2023, the country accounted for approximately 75% of all globally recorded executions, followed by Saudi Arabia with 15%. The current escalation places Iran at the center of international human rights concerns, with eleven individuals currently facing imminent execution, including six charged with "armed resistance" for alleged membership in the banned opposition group MEK.
