Global executions surge to highest level since 2015: Amnesty International

According to a new Amnesty International report, the number of executions globally has risen to its highest level since 2015.

The human rights group identified 1,153 executions in 2023, a 30% increase over the previous year. It’s worth noting that this figure excludes China, where the true number of executions is thought to be much greater due to government secrecy.

The research names Iran as the primary cause of this surge. Iranian officials executed at least 853 people in 2023, a significant increase from 576 the year before. Amnesty is particularly concerned about the executions of 24 women and 5 child criminals. They also highlight the disproportionate impact on Iran’s Baluch minority community.

“Iranian authorities displayed a complete disregard for human life,” claimed Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard. She noted the rise in drug-related executions, as well as the death penalty’s unfair application to vulnerable and impoverished groups.

The research also names China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States as the top five countries for executions in 2023. The global total documented by Amnesty is the highest since 2015, when the organization recorded 1,634 executions.

While the report highlights concerning trends, there is a glimmer of positive news. The number of countries carrying out executions dropped to 16 in 2023, marking the lowest figure ever recorded by Amnesty. Despite this progress, the organization urges a global shift away from the death penalty entirely.

The report criticizes a regression in the United States, where executions increased from 18 to 24 in 2023. Amnesty expresses concern about several states actively pursuing the death penalty, including efforts to introduce execution by firing squad and the use of untested methods like nitrogen gas.

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