The September 2024 report by the Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) sheds light on the severe human rights violations in Iran, with a particular focus on the escalating use of executions as a tool of repression. The extensive report highlights the judiciary’s increasing reliance on capital punishment, which Iran HRM describes as the most ruthless and inhumane form of punishment. Although exact figures are difficult to obtain due to a lack of transparency, the documented cases suggest a dramatic rise in executions during the month, reflecting a grave situation that has drawn international concern.
Surge in Executions
Iran HRM’s research found that 73 people were executed in September 2024, averaging nearly one execution every 10 hours. This represents a sharp increase compared to September 2023, where 25 executions were carried out. While the judiciary traditionally reduces the number of executions in September—coinciding with the Iranian president’s attendance at the United Nations—this year saw a threefold rise. The report also highlights that this increase follows the particularly deadly month of August, where 110 individuals were executed, marking the highest number in 2024. This surge raises alarm among human rights advocates, suggesting an intensification of repression.
Execution of Child Offenders
Iran remains one of the few countries that continues to execute individuals for crimes committed as minors, in violation of international human rights conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a signatory. The execution of 21-year-old Mehdi Jahanpour in September 2024 exemplifies this practice. Jahanpour, who was 16 at the time of his alleged crime, was hanged without the knowledge of his family or legal representation. His execution highlights Iran’s continued disregard for its international obligations, and the secretive nature of such acts underscores the pervasive lack of due process.
Public Executions
Iran’s judiciary also continues to carry out public executions, despite international condemnation. On September 30, 2024, two individuals were executed in public in the city of Khomein, after being convicted of killing a police officer. Public executions, although rare, violate Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has ratified. These executions not only breach international law but also desensitize society to violence, particularly affecting children who witness such acts.
Death Sentences for Political Prisoners
September also saw a rise in death sentences issued to political prisoners, further illustrating the regime’s use of capital punishment to suppress dissent. Among the condemned were Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani, a boxing coach, and Behrouz Ehsani, a 67-year-old prisoner. Their charges, including “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God,” are often politically motivated, targeting those who oppose the regime or support opposition groups like the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). These sentences have raised concerns among human rights organizations, who argue that political dissidents are being silenced through state-sanctioned killings.
Media Silence and Calls for Action
One of the most troubling aspects of the report is the Iranian government’s tight control over information regarding executions. According to Iran HRM, 97% of the executions in September 2024 were conducted without media coverage. Only 3% were reported by state media, which considers the reporting of execution statistics a security-sensitive issue. This deliberate media blackout makes it difficult to grasp the full scope of human rights abuses in Iran.
Iran HRM calls on the international community to take immediate action. The organization urges the United Nations, the European Union, and member states to hold Iran accountable for its gross violations of human rights. Silence, it warns, will only embolden the regime to continue its brutal crackdown on its people. The report calls for an investigation into extrajudicial killings and demands concrete measures to halt the bloodshed.