Iran executed 1,639 people in 2025, groups say

In a stark report released Monday, human rights organizations Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) revealed a shocking surge in executions within Iran during 2025. The NGOs documented at least 1,639 individuals put to death, marking a staggering 68 percent increase compared to the 975 executions recorded in 2024. This grim figure includes 48 women, underscoring the pervasive nature of capital punishment in the country.

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If the Islamic Republic “survives the current crisis, there is a serious risk that executions will be used even more extensively as a tool of oppression and repression.

The report, which relies on a rigorous verification process requiring at least two sources for each execution, highlights that the documented number represents an absolute minimum. The NGOs expressed grave concern that if the Islamic Republic weathers the current geopolitical crisis, there is a serious risk that executions will be employed even more aggressively as a means of internal repression and control. This warning comes at a critical juncture, with ongoing international tensions and a recent ceasefire in the conflict involving the US and Israel.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHR, lamented the absence of any discussion regarding the rights of the Iranian people in recent US-Iran talks held in Islamabad. He stressed that a moratorium on the death penalty and the immediate release of all political prisoners must be the paramount demands in any future negotiations. Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, executive director of ECPM, echoed this sentiment, urging Western powers to place the abolition of the death penalty at the very core of any diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

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Be strong, put the death penalty in all the deals.

Furthermore, the report casts a shadow over the fate of hundreds of detained protesters arrested following the January 2026 demonstrations. These individuals face the risk of death sentences and execution, with charges carrying capital punishment. Even amidst the recent conflict, Iran reportedly executed seven individuals linked to these protests, along with others accused of membership in banned opposition groups and espionage. The NGOs warn that several hundred more individuals are facing charges that could lead to their execution, sending a chilling message of state control through daily hangings.

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A moratorium on the use of the death penalty and the release of all political prisoners must be “demand number one” in talks.