Introduction
The year 2024 was marked by a significant escalation in human rights violations in Iran, with the regime’s continued reliance on executions, arbitrary detentions, torture, and suppression of dissent. This report provides a comprehensive overview of key human rights abuses documented throughout the year, focusing on the regime’s use of capital punishment, targeting of political dissidents and ethnic minorities, and systemic discrimination against women and juveniles.
Overview of Executions
In 2024, the Iranian regime executed at least 993 individuals, a staggering figure that underscores the alarming scope of its repression. Secrecy and lack of transparency characterized these executions:
Total Executions: 993
Secret Executions: 915 (92%)
Women Executed: 32 (28 executed secretly, 4 publicly announced)
Political Prisoners Executed: 14 (7 secretly executed)
Juvenile Offenders Executed: 6 (all conducted secretly)
Public Executions: 4
Key Patterns and Violations
Secrecy and Concealment
The Iranian regime’s execution practices in 2024 were marked by an alarming level of secrecy, with 92% of executions (915 out of 993) conducted without public acknowledgment. This deliberate concealment reflects the regime’s efforts to shield its actions from international condemnation, while continuing its systemic use of capital punishment as a tool of repression.
Families of the victims were often left uninformed until after the executions had taken place. In some cases, families were summoned to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones without prior notice of their impending execution.
Targeting Women
The Iranian regime’s treatment of women in 2024 revealed systemic discrimination and harsh punishments, with many women facing execution, often under dubious charges. Women made up 32 of the total executions, highlighting their vulnerability within an unjust judicial system. A significant majority—27 of these cases—were carried out secretly, with only 4 executions publicly announced.
Notable Cases of Executed Women:
Marjan Hajizadeh (19): Executed on April 11 alongside her husband, Esmail Hassaniani, in Zanjan Central Prison. Marjan, arrested at 16, reportedly had no knowledge of her husband’s drug-related activities.
Unnamed Female Prisoner (Rajai Shahr Prison): Executed on April 26 for the murder of a 70-year-old neighbor.
Unnamed Female Prisoner (Birjand Prison): Executed on April 30 on drug-related charges.
Mahmoudi Nia: Executed on July 21 in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, for the murder of her fiancé, whom she had reportedly been forced to marry.
Three Unnamed Women (Birjand Prison): Executed on July 23 for alleged drug-related offenses.
Unnamed Woman (Khorramabad Central Prison): Executed on July 27 on drug-related charges.
Akhtar Ghorbanloo (17): Executed in October for murder.
Zahra Feyzi (41): Executed in Tabriz for murder in October.
Effat Hamedi: Executed in December in Sari on unspecified charges.
Fariba Maleki Shahivand (Khorramabad): Executed in December on charges of drug-related offenses.
Execution of Political Prisoners and Protesters:
The Iranian regime’s treatment of political prisoners in 2024 was characterized by harsh sentences, secretive executions, and systematic denial of due process. Political dissidents, ethnic minorities, and individuals accused of ties to opposition groups were disproportionately targeted.
Known Executed Political Prisoners:
Davood Abdollahi: A Kurdish Sunni political prisoner, executed on January 2 after enduring 14 years of imprisonment and torture.
Mohammad Qobadlou: A 23-year-old protester executed on January 23 for allegedly killing a regime agent during protests.
Farhad Salimi: A Sunni political prisoner executed on January 23 after 14 years of imprisonment.
Kamran Sheikheh: A Sunni political prisoner from Mahabad, executed on July 25 after being imprisoned for 15 years for participating in the 2009 protests.
Jamshid Sharmahd: An Iranian-German dual national accused of “corruption on earth,” executed on October 28 in a high-profile case widely condemned by the international community.
Rahim Barin: A political prisoner executed on December 18 in Mahabad Prison after spending 19 years in prison for allegedly killing a security officer during the 2005 protests.
Anwar Khezri: A political prisoner executed on May 1 in Gezel Hesar prison.
Khosrow Besharat: A political prisoner executed on May 15 in Gezel Hesar prison.
Edris Jamshid Zehi: A 45 years old political prisoner executed on July 18 in Zahedan’s central prison
Danial Kazemi Nejad: A 30 years old political prisoner executed on July 21 in Kermanshah’s central prison
Reza Rasaie: A 35 years old political prisoner executed on July 21 in Kermanshah’s central prison
(…) Azizi: A political prisoner executed on December 22 in Naghadeh prison
Known Political Prisoners Sentenced to Death:
Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani (29): Sentenced to death in September for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Behrouz Ehsani (67): Charged with “corruption on earth” and supporting the MEK.
Mehdi Hassani (48): Accused of “waging war against God” and sentenced to death by the judiciary.
Hatem Ozdemir (28): A Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death in Urmia for “waging war against God.”
Abolhassan Montazer (65): A political prisoner with chronic health issues sentenced to death in November.
Pouya Ghobadi (32): An electrical engineer detained multiple times since 2017, sentenced to death in November.
Vahid Bani-Amrian (32): A management graduate with a history of arrests, sentenced to death in November.
Babak Alipour (33): A law graduate detained in January 2024, later sentenced to death.
Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar (57): A civil engineer arrested in January 2024, sentenced to death in November.
Mohammad Taghavi (58): A veteran political prisoner with a history of activism in the 1980s and 1990s, sentenced to death in November.
These executions and death sentences reflect the regime’s strategy of silencing dissent by targeting individuals who oppose its oppressive policies. Many of these prisoners were subjected to severe torture, forced confessions, and sham trials.
Juvenile Offenders
The execution of juvenile offenders in Iran during 2024 represents one of the most egregious violations of international human rights law. Despite being a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which explicitly prohibits the execution of individuals for crimes committed under the age of 18, Iran executed at least five individuals who were minors at the time of their alleged offenses. All these executions were conducted secretly, highlighting the regime’s awareness of the global condemnation such practices invite.
Known Cases of Juvenile Offenders Executed in 2024:
Mehdi Barahoui (17): Executed on October 9 in Zahedan for a murder committed during a group altercation. Mehdi’s case drew attention due to his young age and the lack of fair trial procedures.
Arvin Ghahremani (20): A Jewish-Iranian from Bukan, executed in November in Kermanshah for a crime allegedly committed at the age of 17. Arvin was denied legal representation, and his confession was reportedly extracted under torture.
Esmail Barkzai (18): An Afghan national, executed in Yazd for a crime committed when he was only 16.
Akhtar Ghorbanloo (17): A young woman executed in October for a murder charge stemming from what appeared to be a domestic dispute. Her execution underscores the intersection of gender-based violence and systemic injustice faced by juvenile offenders.
The cases of juvenile offenders often involve coerced confessions, extracted under torture or psychological pressure. These individuals are typically from vulnerable backgrounds, including ethnic minorities or marginalized communities.
Juvenile executions in Iran are carried out in secrecy, with families often receiving little to no prior notice of their loved one’s fate. In some cases, families learn of the execution only after it has been carried out, preventing them from even saying goodbye or appealing the sentence.
Public Executions
Public executions in Iran during 2024 were used as a deliberate tool of intimidation and fear. The regime carried out at least 4 executions in public settings, staging these events as a warning to discourage dissent and suppress opposition. Public hangings are conducted in violation of international norms that prohibit cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments, further highlighting the regime’s disregard for human rights.
Known Victims of Public Executions:
Unnamed Prisoners (Khomein): On September 30, two individuals were publicly executed in Khomein for “hostilities through shooting” and allegedly killing a police officer. These executions were carried out in front of a gathered crowd to instill fear among local residents.
Unnamed Individual (Hamedan): On November 12, a public execution took place in Hamedan, reportedly for murder. The event was staged as a spectacle to emphasize the regime’s narrative of strict enforcement of law and order.
These public executions serve not only as acts of punishment but also as tools of psychological warfare against the populace. By conducting executions in open spaces, often in the presence of families, children, and the general public, the regime aims to instill a pervasive sense of fear. These events are heavily controlled, with state security forces ensuring that no protests or disruptions occur.
Health Neglect and Torture in Prisons
Iranian prisons in 2024 continued to be sites of severe human rights abuses, characterized by systematic torture, medical neglect, and inhumane treatment of detainees. Political prisoners, ethnic minorities, and protestors faced particularly harsh conditions, with many denied access to necessary medical care despite suffering from chronic illnesses or injuries inflicted by torture. These practices not only violate Iran’s own legal obligations but also international human rights standards, including the prohibition of torture and the right to health.
Key Cases of Health Neglect and Torture in Prisons:
Hossein Salehi: A political prisoner in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, who suffers from a nervous disease caused by prolonged torture. Despite his deteriorating condition, authorities have repeatedly denied him medical treatment.
Hamed Ghareh Oghlani: Detained in Torbat Jam, Hamed suffers from epilepsy. After starting a hunger strike to protest the denial of medical care, he was placed in solitary confinement, exacerbating his condition.
Mehdi Maarabi: An Arab political prisoner in Ahvaz, who suffered a heart attack in custody. Despite the severity of his condition, authorities returned him to prison without completing his treatment.
Ayoub Ghaibipour: A Kurdish political prisoner suffering from severe infections following surgery. Ayoub was returned to prison just days after undergoing a major operation, leading to a critical decline in his health.
Khasmorad Saeedi: A Kurdish prisoner who died after prison authorities delayed his transfer to a hospital despite his worsening condition. His death highlights the lethal consequences of medical neglect in Iranian prisons.
Jamsheed Gorgij: Died of a heart attack in Zahedan Prison on January 1, after being denied urgent medical care despite showing clear signs of distress.
Torture and Its Consequences:
Mehran Akrami: A Taekwondo champion arrested during the 2022 uprisings, Mehran died on March 12 in custody. His body bore signs of severe torture, including fractures, lacerations, and internal bleeding.
Ghafar Akbari: Arrested and tortured in Malekan for three weeks, Ghafar succumbed to his injuries on November 16. Authorities obstructed his transfer to a hospital, directly contributing to his death.
The regime routinely uses torture as a method of extracting confessions and punishing dissent. Common methods include beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, and psychological abuse. Prisoners often suffer long-term physical and mental health consequences as a result.
Medical neglect in Iranian prisons is systematic, with authorities frequently ignoring prisoners’ requests for treatment. In many cases, prisoners are denied access to external specialists or life-saving procedures, even when their conditions are critical. These denials are deliberate, intended to punish or break the spirit of political prisoners and protestors.
Repression of Women’s Rights
The Iranian regime intensified its systematic repression of women’s rights in 2024, targeting female activists, political prisoners, and ordinary citizens with arbitrary arrests, harsh sentences, and inhumane treatment. Women who advocated for social or political change faced relentless persecution, often due to their ties to opposition groups or their participation in protests.
Maryam Akbari Monfared: A political prisoner since 2009, Maryam’s sentence was extended by three years, bringing her total imprisonment to 18 years. She was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the Supreme Leader,” charges fabricated by the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS). Her original sentence of 15 years stemmed from her efforts to seek justice for her siblings, who were executed during the 1988 mass executions.
Forough Taghipour, Marzieh Farsi, and Zahra Safaei: Three women affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) were collectively sentenced to 35 years in prison in February. Their charges included “acting against national security,” accusations frequently levied against dissidents. The women have a history of persecution due to their family ties to the MEK and their activism.
Executions During Massoud Pezeshkian’s Tenure
Since Massoud Pezeshkian assumed his role in July 2024, the Iranian regime has executed at least 638 individuals, including 22 women, marking a grim period of intensified state violence. These executions reflect the regime’s continued reliance on capital punishment as a means to suppress dissent and instill fear.
Global “No to Executions” Campaign
In response to Iran’s alarming escalation in executions, 2024 witnessed the rise of the Global “No to Executions” Campaign, a widespread movement calling for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran. The campaign was initiated by Iranian political prisoners and gained momentum internationally, mobilizing support from a diverse coalition of activists, former world leaders, and human rights organizations.
Origins of the Campaign:
The movement began with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” initiative, spearheaded by political prisoners across 26 prisons in Iran. These prisoners, often facing imminent execution themselves, risked severe reprisals to call attention to the regime’s systematic use of capital punishment as a tool of repression.
International Support:
On December 10, 2024, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, over 3,000 prominent figures endorsed the campaign. Signatories included:
Former heads of state and government officials from Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Nobel laureates and renowned human rights advocates.
Representatives from global organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Members of the United Nations, including former high commissioners for human rights.
These figures emphasized the moral and legal imperative to halt the use of the death penalty in Iran, citing its violation of international human rights standards and the regime’s targeting of vulnerable populations, including women, juveniles, and political dissidents.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The year 2024 has reinforced the urgent need for the international community to address Iran’s human rights crisis. The staggering number of executions, systematic persecution of political dissidents, and continued use of inhumane punishments demand immediate attention.
Governments, human rights organizations, and international bodies must intensify their efforts to hold the Iranian regime accountable. The Iranian people deserve justice, transparency, and respect for their fundamental rights.
