Amnesty International reports Iran’s role in fueling global rise in executions in 2023

The global rise in executions has sparked outrage and protests around the world, with Amnesty International reporting the highest number of executions in eight years. According to the organization, a total of 1,153 people were put to death across 16 countries in 2023, marking a significant increase of more than 30% compared to the previous year.

Iran was responsible for 74% of these executions, with a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty for drug offenses. Saudi Arabia accounted for 15% of the total number of executions. These figures do not include China, which is believed to execute thousands of people each year, making it the world’s leading executioner.

Amnesty International expressed concern over the lack of transparency in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam, where executions are believed to be carried out extensively. The organization also noted that despite the rise in executions globally, the number of countries carrying out the death penalty was the lowest on record. Countries like Belarus, Japan, Myanmar, and South Sudan, which had executed individuals in 2022, did not record any executions in 2023.

Iran’s significant increase in executions drew criticism from Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, who condemned the Iranian authorities for their disregard for human life, particularly in marginalized and impoverished communities. Callamard highlighted the discriminatory impact of the death penalty in Iran, especially for drug-related offenses.

On a more positive note, Pakistan repealed its death penalty for drug offenses in 2023, while Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty. Sri Lanka also confirmed that the president had no intention of signing execution warrants, alleviating concerns about a potential resumption of executions in the country.

In the United States, where capital punishment is still legal, executions rose to 24 in 2023 from 18 in the previous year. Several states introduced bills to expand the methods of execution, including firing squads and lethal injections with different substances. In South Carolina, a new law was signed to protect the identities of those involved in executions.

Amnesty International called on President Biden to fulfill his promise to abolish the federal death penalty in the United States, urging him to take action to end capital punishment. The rise in executions globally has reignited the debate on the use of the death penalty and its impact on human rights, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in countries where executions are still carried out.