Iran's Execution Toll Reaches 834 in 2023, Marking an 8-Year High

The surge in executions, up 43% from the previous year, is seen as a response to nationwide protests and a means to instill fear in society.

Iran executed at least 834 people in 2023, the highest number since 2015, with a significant increase in drug-related executions.
The execution of 22 women marks the highest number in the past decade, with many hanged on murder charges.
Members of ethnic minorities, particularly the Sunni Baluch, are disproportionately represented among those executed.
Public hangings increased, with seven people executed in public spaces in 2023, triple the number from 2022.
Rights groups criticize the international community's inconsistent reaction to Iran's use of the death penalty, urging stronger condemnation.