Global Report Shows Highest Number of Executions Recorded Since 2015

Amnesty International Report Reveals Alarming Increase in Global Executions in 2023

A recent report from Amnesty International has shed light on a disturbing trend in global executions, with at least 1,153 recorded in 2023 – the highest total since 2015. This marks a 31% increase from the previous year and the first time the number has surpassed 1,000 since 2016.

Despite the number of countries carrying out executions shrinking to 16, the lowest since monitoring began, the death toll continues to rise. Iran led the pack with 853 known executions, accounting for nearly 75% of the global total. The surge in executions in Iran, including a significant increase in drug-related offenses, contributed to the overall increase.

The report also highlighted the lack of transparency in countries like China, where thousands of executions are believed to have taken place but precise figures are unknown. Other countries such as North Korea and Vietnam were also suspected of carrying out executions, but credible data was unavailable.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, expressed concern over the rise in executions, particularly in the Middle East. Despite this setback, she noted that countries still carrying out executions are increasingly isolated on the global stage.

The report also revealed a 20% increase in new death sentences in 2023, totaling 2,428. The use of hanging and shooting were the most common methods of execution, with lethal injections also employed in countries like China, Vietnam, and the United States.

As the international community grapples with this troubling trend, it is clear that more needs to be done to address human rights violations and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.