Iran has seen a frightening increase in executions, particularly for drug-related offenses, in recent years. According to Amnesty International, Iran carried out at least 173 drug-related executions in the first five months of 2023, nearly three times more than the same period in 2022. This accounts for two-thirds of all executions in Iran so far this year.
Kabul 24: The situation has been described as “prisons turned into killing fields” by Amnesty International. The majority of those executed come from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backrounds, with members of the persecuted Baluchi ethnic minority making up around 20% of recorded executions despite only comprising 5% of Iran’s population
These executions have been carried out after systematically unfair trials that violate international law. Defendants often lack access to independent legal representation and are unaware of their rights, as it is mostly the poor and vulnerable who are impacted by the death penalty.
Families of those executed frequently struggle with the dire economic consequences of losing breadwinners and being heavily indebted from legal fees.
The Iranian authorities have also been executing prisoners for other acts that should never result in the death penalty under international law, such as participating in protests and social media posts.
Alarming Trend Across Iran
The number of executions in 2023 is the highest recorded since 2015 and marks a 48% increase from 2022 and a 172% increase from 2021. In 2023, Iran was responsible for 74% of all recorded executions in the world.
The “shameless rate” at which the authorities are carrying out drug-related executions exposes their lack of humanity and flagrant disregard for the right to life. The international community must urgently condemn these arbitrary executions and call for an official moratorium on all executions in Iran.
Case of Nematullah: A 25-Year-Old Afghan Medical Student Sentenced to Death
Nematullah, a 25-year-old Afghan medical student from Helmand, was recently sentenced to death in Iran on charges of drug trafficking. He had traveled to Iran for leisure and to visit relatives when he was arrested and accused of the crime.
Nematullah’s family is pleading for the Afghan government to intervene and secure his release or transfer him back to Afghanistan. They argue that he is innocent and that his execution would be devastating for the family.
The acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, stated that they have allocated a special budget to address the situation of Afghan prisoners in neighboring countries. In the past two years, more than 2,000 Afghan prisoners have been transferred from Iran to Afghanistan for the purpose of addressing their cases.
