Iran has come under scrutiny for its high rate of executions, with at least 853 people executed in the country last year. Human rights activists suspect the actual number to be higher. Amnesty International's latest report reveals that Iran accounted for nearly three-quarters of the 1,153 executions worldwide in 2023, marking the highest number of executions in almost a decade. The secretive nature of executions, particularly for drug convictions, raises concerns about due process and transparency. Human rights activists are calling for an end to the use of the death penalty in Iran and for the international community to exert pressure on the Iranian government to uphold human rights standards [da5375f7] [fe1b0523].
Amnesty International reported a significant rise in global executions in 2023, reaching the highest level since 2015. The majority of the increase occurred in Iran, where at least 853 people were executed, up from 576 in 2022. Among those executed in Iran were 24 women and five people who were minors at the time of their alleged crimes. The Baluch minority in Iran was disproportionately affected. Amnesty's report also mentioned significant numbers of executions in China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States. The number of executions in China is unknown due to state secrecy, but estimates suggest at least 8,000 people per year have been executed since 2007. In the US, the number of executions rose from 18 to 24, with some states using new methods like firing squads and nitrogen gas. Despite the increases, the number of countries conducting executions dropped to 16, the lowest since Amnesty began monitoring. Amnesty International urges all governments to rally behind the UN's call to end the use of the death penalty [f2227cbb] [fe1b0523].
A report by the United Nations secretary-general condemns the high number of executions carried out in Iran last year and the government's violent crackdown against women and girls for defying the country's mandatory hijab law. At least 834 individuals were executed in 2023, representing a 43% increase from the previous year. The report also highlights an 84% increase in executions for drug-related offenses in 2023, the highest figure in nearly a decade. The nongovernmental organization Iran Human Rights reports that executions are continuing to surge in 2024, with at least 243 people, including 10 women, executed so far. The report expresses concern about the government's determination to enforce and strengthen its hijab law, including a chastity and hijab bill that introduces severe penalties for noncompliance. The report describes Iran as an extremely repressive regime that restricts civic and democratic space, controls access to information, and targets journalists, writers, and artists. The report also notes Iran's economic crisis, exacerbated by government economic mismanagement and unilateral coercive measures, which have adversely affected living conditions and access to health, food, and water. The report calls on the government to cooperate with fact-finding missions and special rapporteurs investigating human rights violations in Iran [f47976e4].
Amnesty International Malaysia has urged the Malaysian government to provide public access to data on the death penalty and increase transparency. The executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia, Katrina Jorene Maliamauv, highlighted the lack of response to information requests and called for proactive and detailed data sharing on the use of the death penalty, statistics, and the next steps towards its abolition. The group also expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the pardon process, which it described as opaque and secretive. The report revealed that there are currently 1,078 death row prisoners in Malaysia, including 641 Malaysians and 437 foreign nationals. There are 38 prisoners awaiting execution, with 20 of them convicted of drug-related offenses and the rest for murder. The death penalty was made optional rather than mandatory in a bill passed by the Dewan Rakyat, giving judges discretion in sentencing. However, the courts have continued to sentence defendants to death due to the effective legislation carrying the mandatory death penalty. Amnesty International Malaysia calls on the Malaysian government to provide public access to data on the death penalty, increase transparency, and take steps towards its abolition [a00c18f5].
According to Amnesty International's World Human Rights 2023 report, there are currently 184 convicts on death row in Ghana, including seven women and 10 foreign nationals. This number increased from last year's total of 180 after four individuals were sentenced to death in the first quarter of this year. The report also highlights various human rights issues in Ghana, such as witchcraft accusations, women's and girls' rights, sexual minority rights, excessive use of force, right to health, and environmental issues. Amnesty International Ghana calls for concrete steps to ensure the complete abolition of the death penalty and urges the government to commute the death sentences to life imprisonment. Director of Amnesty International, Genevieve Partington, emphasizes the need for Ghana to promote human rights, democracy, and justice, particularly during electioneering. The former President, John Dramani Mahama, pledges to commute the death sentences of all 184 convicts on death row to life imprisonment if re-elected [6e832b1b].
Torture remains widespread despite evidence against it, with governments and security agencies reluctant to eradicate it. Amnesty International has reported torture in at least 141 countries. Efforts to eradicate torture have been expedited in recent years, but the practice endures, often affecting poor and marginalized individuals. Lack of training and resources for law enforcement agencies contribute to the use of torture. Providing justice and assistance to victims is crucial in breaking the barrier of impunity around torture [b0aaf9fe].