In 2022, Iranian authorities executed 582 people, according to a report by Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (“Together Against the Death Penalty”, ECPM). This is 75% more than in 2021, when 333 people were executed. In addition, this is the highest figure since 2015.
The IHR report emphasizes that this is not an exact number, as there are reports of executions that cannot be confirmed from two different sources. The report also does not include at least 537 protesters killed during protests against Iran's sexist policies, deaths in custody or as a result of torture.
About 88% or 511 of the 582 executions were not announced by the Iranian authorities. At least 288 executions (49%) were carried out on charges of murder. This is the highest figure in over 15 years. At least 256 people (44%) were executed on substance-related charges. There were 126 (38%) such executions in 2021. Among those executed were at least 16 women and three minors.
“We fear that the number of executions will rise sharply in 2023 if the international community does not respond more actively. Every execution in Iran is political, regardless of the charges,” said IHR director Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam. He believes that in 2023 the number of executions could exceed the record figure of 2015. Then the Iranian authorities executed at least 972 people. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 150 people have been executed.
Many of the executions in 2022 were linked to protests following the killing of 22-year-old activist Mahsa Amini by police. On September 13, she was arrested by the vice police for allegedly violating the strict law on wearing a hijab – from under it, the girl's hair was visible. Amini was beaten in a detention van, after which she was taken to the hospital, where she fell into a coma and died.