Iran executed 834 people last year, highest since 2015: rights groups

According to two rights groups on Tuesday, Iran carried out a “staggering” total of at least 834 executions last year-the highest number since 2015-as the death penalty increased in the Islamic republic.

Iran has executed more people by hanging in recent years than it did in 2022-a rise of almost 43%.

According to the research, which was released by Together Against the Death Penalty, a Paris-based organisation, and Iran Human Rights, located in Norway, it was just the second time in 20 years that there were more than 800 executions in a single year, following 972 in 2015.

Following the demonstrations that were triggered by Mahsa Amini’s murder in police custody in September 2022, which shocked the authorities, the organisations accused Iran of employing the death sentence to instill terror throughout society.