Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) presents its monthly report on the human rights situation in Iran at a time when the Iranian judiciary continues to extensively employ executions as the most ruthless and inhumane form of punishment.Based on the statistics recorded by the Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) Statistics and Documentation Center, and with extensive research conducted in this field, the final figures for executions in July 2024 have been obtained. However, it is emphasized that the actual numbers are significantly higher, as most executions in Iran are carried out secretly.
In the July 2024 report, we intend to explore executions along the following axes.
- Total Number of Executions
- Executions of women
- Execution of political prisoners
- Secret Executions and Publicly Announced Executions
Total Number of Executions
In July 2024, the rate of executions increased alarmingly, with the Iranian judiciary executing 53 individuals. This is in stark contrast to June, during which 10 individuals were executed. Executions have increased more than fivefold. These calculations indicate that the number of executions in Iran is escalating, and the Iranian judiciary has employed a ruthless trend in executions, which is very concerning.
Executions of women
In July 2024, the Iranian judiciary executed five female prisoners, a fivefold increase compared to June. On average, in July, one female prisoner was executed in Iran every six days. The number of executions in Iran from the beginning of the year 2024 until the end of July reached 15 female prisoners. The increasing trend of executing women in Iran is very concerning.
On Suday, July 21, 2024, the execution sentence of a female prisoner in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz was carried out. This woman, identified as Mahmoudi Nia (name unknown), was executed on charges of murder. Mrs. Mahmoudi Nia had been arrested for the murder of her fiancé and was sentenced to death. She was forced into marriage against her will by her family as she was not willing to marry him.
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the execution sentences of three female prisoners in Birjand Prison were carried out. These three women had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses, and the identities of the executed female prisoners have not been verified as of the moment of this report’s publication.
On the morning of Saturday, July 27, 2024, the execution sentence of a woman in Khorramabad Central Prison was carried out. This woman had been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses. The identity of this female prisoner is currently under investigation. The execution of this female prisoner has not been officially announced by media outlets close to the judiciary as of the time of this report.
Last year, Iran became the largest executioner of women in the world by executing at least 25 women in 2023. In 2022, Iran ranked first as the largest executioner of women worldwide. Iran remains the leading country in the execution of women worldwide.
Execution of political prisoners
In July 2024, the Iranian judiciary carried out the execution of a political prisoner. On the early morning of Thursday, July 25, 2024, the death sentence of Kamran Sheikheh, a Sunni political prisoner from Mahabad, was carried out after 15 years of imprisonment in Urmia Central Prison. Kamran Sheikheh, 40 years old, has been imprisoned for nearly 15 years in Ghezel Hesar and Urmia prisons. He was arrested in 2009 along with six other Sunni individuals from his hometown. In March 2018, they were sentenced to death by Judge Salavati. The charges brought against them include the murder of an Imam of the Friday Prayer in the Rashidin Mosque in Mahabad during the nationwide protests in 2009.
Secret Executions and Publicly Announced Executions
In July 2024, the death sentences of 49 prisoners were carried out secretly and without media coverage, with only the execution of 4 prisoners being reported by the media. Therefore, 92% of executions in Iran have been carried out secretly. Only 8% of the executions have been reported by the media. Therefore, it is evident that the statistics and figures of executions in Iran are much higher, but unfortunately, they do not reach independent media outlets due to the silence of the official media.
Call on International Human Rights Authorities
Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) calls for an investigation against extra-judicial executions in Iran from Mrs. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Affairs. It also urges the United Nations, the European Union, and member countries not to remain silent in the face of these executions, to condemn this state-sponsored massacre, and to demand immediate and practical action to halt this bloodshed. Silence in the face of this regime’s crime is a violation of the most fundamental human rights and democratic standards.
