Iran’s Execution Rate Nearly Doubles in 2025; Over 50 Afghans Among Those Put to Death

Rights groups say executions have nearly doubled, targeting vulnerable groups amid growing political repression.

Tehran, September 2025 — Executions in Iran have reached alarming levels in 2025, with Iran Human Rights (IHR) reporting 864 executions in the first eight months of the year, nearly double the number recorded during the same period in 2024. Among those executed were at least 50 Afghan nationals, prompting international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of Iran’s opaque justice system.

According to IHR, Afghan citizens have become one of the most disproportionately affected groups, many facing capital punishment for alleged drug-related offenses or vague charges tied to national security. The Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw reported an even higher figure, stating that 59 Afghans had been executed during the same timeframe. The discrepancy underscores the lack of transparency in Iran’s judicial and penal processes, where official figures are rarely published, and many trials take place behind closed doors.

A Surge in Executions

The spike in executions marks one of the most intense periods of capital punishment in Iran in over a decade. The majority of those executed were convicted of drug trafficking, murder, or national security offenses—charges that rights groups say are often used arbitrarily, especially against ethnic minorities, foreign nationals, and political prisoners.

Observers have also documented public hangings, some carried out without due process or following trials that lacked legal representation or met international standards of fairness. Iran’s use of the death penalty remains one of the highest per capita globally, and the country ranks among the top executioners worldwide, alongside China and Saudi Arabia.

International Condemnation

The United Nations has condemned the execution spree, citing concerns over human rights violations, the use of torture to extract confessions, and the targeting of marginalized communities. A UN statement released in late August confirmed over 840 executions so far in 2025, noting a troubling increase in executions of foreign nationals, including Afghans, Pakistanis, and Kurds.

“These numbers are horrifying and represent a deliberate escalation by Iranian authorities,” said a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office. “We are particularly concerned about the disproportionate targeting of Afghan migrants and refugees, who often lack legal protection or access to consular support.”

Politically Motivated?

Human rights defenders believe the rise in executions is politically motivated, serving as a tool to intimidate vulnerable communities, quell dissent, and tighten authoritarian control amid increasing economic hardship and public discontent. The crackdown comes amid growing unrest inside Iran, fueled by inflation, unemployment, and a declining standard of living.

Afghans in particular face institutional discrimination in Iran, where many live without legal status or access to fair legal representation. Human Rights Watch has previously documented cases where Afghan detainees were denied interpreters, coerced into confessions, and executed without notification to their families or consular officials.

The Road Ahead

Analysts warn that unless the international community ramps up diplomatic pressure and pushes for accountability, Iran’s continued reliance on the death penalty will not only deepen its global isolation but also undermine the rule of law and human rights across the region.

“There’s an urgent need for coordinated international action,” said IHR Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. “Sanctions, diplomatic engagement, and public pressure must be used to hold Iranian authorities accountable for these atrocities.”

As the death toll rises, the silence of many regional powers and global institutions is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Without meaningful consequences, rights groups fear Iran’s execution machinery will only continue to expand—at the cost of justice, dignity, and countless lives.

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