A recent Amnesty International report highlights that global executions have reached their highest level since 2015, totaling over 1,500 in 2024. While most countries are moving away from capital punishment, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia have dramatically increased their execution rates.
Surge in Global Executions: Amnesty International Reports Alarming Trends
Surge in Global Executions: Amnesty International Reports Alarming Trends
A new report reveals a concerning rise in state executions worldwide, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia responsible for a significant majority.
The year 2024 has witnessed a troubling surge in executions worldwide, reaching levels not seen since 2015, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The report details over 1,500 executions carried out globally, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounting for a staggering 1,380 of these cases. In stark contrast, the United States reported 25 executions.
While this increase brings attention to the alarming trend in capital punishment, the report also notes a decline in the number of countries employing the death penalty, which has reduced to just 15—the lowest in recorded history for the second year in a row.
Amnesty International's Secretary General, Agnes Callamard, described this pivotal moment in the fight against capital punishment, asserting that “the tide is turning” and emphasized that it is “only a matter of time” until the global community eliminates the death penalty altogether.
The figures presented, while alarming, may not capture the complete reality, as they do not include executions reported in China, where Amnesty estimates thousands occur annually but lack transparent data due to state secrecy. Similar concerns apply to North Korea and Vietnam, further complicating the collection of accurate statistics in those regions.
The report titled "Death Sentences and Executions 2024" highlighted that the documented increases in executions are chiefly attributed to actions taken by Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. In particular, Iraq witnessed a dramatic rise, with its execution count soaring from at least 16 in the previous year to at least 63. Saudi Arabia similarly saw its numbers double, escalating from 172 to at least 345, while Iran's figures climbed from at least 853 to a staggering 972.
The increase in capital punishment is reportedly fueled by governments "weaponizing" the death penalty to suppress protests and address drug-related offenses. Amnesty's findings indicate that over 40% of executions carried out in 2024 were linked to drug crimes, which the organization deemed unlawful under international human rights law.
On a more positive note, recent developments include Zimbabwe’s enactment of a law abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes, and notable cases of clemency in Japan and the US for death row inmates. Furthermore, a significant majority of UN member states voted in favor of a moratorium on the death penalty last year, signaling a growing global consensus against this practice.
