Breathing in Confinement

Annual Human Rights Report in Iran – At Least 1,170 Prisoners Executed During the Solar Year 1403- 20 March 2024- 20 March 2025

4-April-2025

Category: Children، executions، Finger Amputation Sentence، Freedom of Expression، Labor and guilds، Prisoners، protesters، religious minorities، Repression، Retirees، Students، Sukhtbar، Suppression، Women

 

31 March 2025
News Categories: Freedom of Expression – Protests – Executions – Religious Minorities – Arrests – Retirees – Students – Women – Prisoners – Repression – Fuel Carriers – Amputations – Workers and Unions – Children – Porters – Teachers

Breathing in Confinement – 30 March 2025:
The Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran has published its annual report on human rights violations in Iran for the year 1403 (2024–2025). According to recorded and verified data, at least 1,170 prisoners were executed in Iran during the past solar year.

The report is based on international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention Against Torture (CAT). It documents systematic human rights violations in Iran and specific breaches of these conventions, as recorded and analysed in detail by the Breathing in Confinement Statistical Centre.

The report highlights that with the start of President Pezeshkian’s term, a new wave of brutal violence and increased prisoner executions has emerged. Of the 1,170 executions, 951 were carried out after 31 July 2024, coinciding with the beginning of his presidency.

 

Summary of Human Rights Violations in Iran in 1403 (2024–25):

• Execution of at least 1,170 prisoners, including 5 executions carried out in public
• Issuance or confirmation of death sentences for 221 individuals, including 45 political prisoners
• At least 1,380 citizens arrested
• 11 prisoners died under torture and 20 others due to lack of medical care
• Amputation of four prisoners’ right-hand fingers
• Sentencing of 11,302 lashes across 123 cases, with lash sentences of unknown quantity issued in 53 additional cases, and one flogging sentence carried out in public
• Sentencing of 578 defendants to a total of 2,537 years and 24 days of imprisonment and fines amounting to over 703,082,000,000 rials (approx. 7 billion tomans)
• Arrest of at least 165 political prisoners for sentence enforcement
• Death of 1,023 workers and injury of at least 9,239 others due to work-related accidents; 4,326 workers dismissed
• Over 380 protest actions held by various segments of the population
• Continued political prisoners’ hunger strike campaign known as “No to Executions Tuesdays”, reaching its 60th week and spreading to 38 prisons nationwide. This was accompanied by protests from families of political prisoners and civil rights activists against death sentences
• Ongoing protests by retirees throughout the year

 

 

Full Report – Violation of the Right to Life (Article 3 UDHR and Article 6 ICCPR)

1- Executions

According to the Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, from the beginning of the Iranian year 1403 (March 2024) until the end of this year (March 2025), at least 1,170 people were hanged. Compared to the 848 executions recorded the previous year under the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi, known as the Ayatollah of the Massacre, this figure reflects an increase of nearly 38%.

These widespread executions in Iran are a blatant violation of the right to life, as guaranteed under (Article 6 ICCPR). The execution of political prisoners also reflects the systematic repression of dissent and violates the prohibition on execution for political reasons.

The human rights situation in Iran has severely deteriorated, causing increasing concern in recent years. Despite international condemnation and widespread global concern, Iranian authorities have continued — and even accelerated — their use of executions as a tool to suppress society and silence opposition.

The bar chart below illustrates the number of executions carried out by the Islamic Republic over the past four years. According to the chart, from 1400 (2021) to 1403 (2024), executions in Iran have increased by 72%.

 

 

This data reflects a 206% increase in executions over the past four years, with the most significant spike occurring in the past year. This rise, in light of the concerns highlighted in reports by Amnesty International and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, points to an intensification of judicial repression.

 

The bar chart below shows the number of executions by month over the past year.

 

 

According to this chart, October witnessed the highest number of executions. In June, due to the presidential election held after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the number of executions significantly dropped. However, regrettably, in March, despite the start of Ramadan, executions continued with greater intensity.

Despite using executions to intensify repression across society, the Islamic Republic continues to hide these statistics from the international human rights community. According to reports recorded by the Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, out of the 1,170 executions carried out over the past year, only 54 cases were announced by official sources or state media, while 1116 cases, despite repression and the threat of arrest, were revealed by human rights activists.

 

According to this report and related investigations, the highest number of executions were related to drug-related charges.

 

The pie chart below presents the breakdown of executions by charge.

 

 

 

Among the 1,170 executed, 7 were political prisoners, 566 were charged with drug-related crimes, 541 with murder, 37 with rape, 7 with moharebeh and baghi through armed robbery, 4 with alcohol trafficking, and 1 with “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel arz). The charges for 7 of the executed prisoners have not been identified.

Last year, political prisoners Anwar Khezri, Mohammad Reza Jafari, and Kamran Sheikhah were executed after more than 14 years in prison, on charges of killing a religious figure (mamosta). Idris Jamshidzehi was also executed after 7 years of imprisonment, on charges of killing a Basij commander and acting against national security. Danial Kazeminejad was executed for resisting the armed attack of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on a Lor village and for the killing of a member of the IRGC. Reza Rasaei was also hanged on charges of killing the head of the Intelligence Department in the city of Sahneh. Additionally, the execution of political prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, a dual Iranian-German citizen who also held U.S. residency was carried out last year. Mr Sharmahd was abducted by the Islamic Republic in 2020 in Dubai in violation of international law.

 

Among those executed in the past year were 38 women and 9 juvenile offenders. And 5 executions were carried out in public.

 

• Violations

Execution of Political Prisoners

• This is one of the most serious human rights violations in Iran.
• Article 19 of the ICCPR guarantees freedom of speech and belief, and prohibits persecution for political opinions.
• The execution of political prisoners is a clear violation of this right.

Executions for Drug-Related and Murder Offences

• Under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and Article 7 of the ICCPR, capital punishment must only be used in exceptional circumstances and under conditions of fair trial.
• Mass executions for drug-related offences, especially non-violent crimes, are in direct conflict with Iran’s international commitments.

 

Officials of the Islamic Republic have used the death penalty as a strict measure to punish individuals accused of drug trafficking and distribution. This policy, particularly in recent years, has intensified, but has consistently faced widespread criticism from human rights organisations. Experience has shown that the death penalty has had little effect on reducing drug trafficking, and in many cases, lower-level operatives in drug networks are executed, while major traffickers remain immune from punishment. Moreover, harsh laws in this area predominantly target the poor and vulnerable.

The Iranian government applies the death penalty for murder as a means of retribution (qisas) and deterrence against violent crimes. This sentence is usually carried out upon the request of the victim’s family (wali-ye dam), and the judiciary presents it as a tool for justice. However, in many cases, the trials are unfair, and confessions are obtained under torture. Furthermore, qisas often replaces meaningful reform of criminal justice structures and functions as an act of revenge, depriving offenders of the opportunity for rehabilitation.

 

2. Issuance of Death Sentences

• A total of 221 new death sentences were issued or confirmed, including 45 for political prisoners.
• Violations:
  • Right to Life: Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
  • Prohibition of Cruel and Inhuman Punishment: Article 5 of the UDHR, Article 7 of the ICCPR
• The 221 death sentences included:
  • 45 political prisoners
  • 127 murder suspects
  • 9 charged with moharebeh (waging war against God) and armed robbery
  • 1 charged with disrupting the economic system
  • 37 charged with rape
  • 2 charged with adultery
  • 1 charged with trafficking girls
  • 2 charged with administering lethal injections to patients
  • 2 individuals received death sentences to be carried out in public
• There was a 66% increase in death sentences for political prisoners compared to the previous year, reflecting the regime’s instrumental use of capital punishment for political repression.

 

3. Flogging Sentences

• Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman Treatment: Article 5 of the UDHR, Article 7 of the ICCPR, and the Convention Against Torture
• In the past year:
  • At least 11,302 lashes were sentenced across 132 cases
  • An additional 74 flogging sentences were issued in 53 other cases
  • One sentence was carried out in public
• These sentences were issued against:
  • Political prisoners
  • Economic offenders
  • Those charged with document forgery, theft, alcohol consumption, rape, sexual assault, and illicit relationships

 

4. Arrests and Prison Incidents

• Violation of the Right to Liberty and Personal Security: Article 9 of the ICCPR
• Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman Treatment: Article 7 of the ICCPR and CAT
• Right to Life: Article 6 of the ICCPR
• At least 1,380 citizens were arrested last year.
• 11 prisoners died under torture, including Mohammad Gorgin, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, and Masoumeh Hoveyzat.
• 20 prisoners died due to lack of medical care.
• Several political prisoners died under suspicious circumstances after being released.
• Denial of proper medical treatment in prison is considered a form of torture, and is illegal under the CAT.

 

5. Amputation Sentences

• Prohibition of Torture and Cruel Punishments: Article 5 of the UDHR, Article 7 of the ICCPR, and CAT
• Last year, amputations of the right-hand fingers of at least 4 individuals were carried out by guillotine in Qom and Urmia.
• Sentences for amputation were also issued for 3 additional individuals.

 

6. Imprisonment and Sentencing to Fines

• Right to a Fair Trial: Article 10 of the UDHR, Article 13 of the ICCPR
• 578 cases resulted in sentences of imprisonment or financial penalties.
  • Total punishment included:
    • 2,357 years and 24 days of imprisonment
    • Over 703 billion tomans in fines
• Those sentenced included:
  • Political activists
  • Families seeking justice
  • Lawyers
  • Journalists
  • Other members of civil society

 

7. Worker Dismissals

• Violation of the Right to Work and Protection Against Arbitrary Dismissal: Article 23 of the UDHR
• At least 4,326 workers were dismissed last year.
• Key causes included:
  • Economic instability
  • Inflation and currency devaluation
  • Frequent power outages
• 1,023 workers died, and 9,239 were injured due to workplace accidents, reflecting the lack of safety standards, which violates the right to safe and fair working conditions (Article 7 of the ICESCR).
• The dismissal of 4,326 workers, often without proper compensation, also violates protections against unfair dismissal (Articles 6 & 7 of ICESCR).

 

8. Workplace Accidents

• Right to Safe Working Conditions: Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• At least 1,023 workers died, and 9,239 were injured while on the job.
• One of the most tragic incidents was an explosion in the Tabas coal mine, which resulted in 53 deaths.

 

9. Women

In recent years, Iranian authorities have intensified their repressive policies against women. One manifestation of this has been the increase in the number of women executed. Last year, 38 women were executed—an increase of 46.15% compared to the 26 women executed the previous year. This growing trend has deepened human rights concerns. The rise in executions of women has occurred alongside harsher state policies, the weakening of women’s rights, and increased pressure on women’s rights activists. Since the beginning of President Pezeshkian’s term, the repression of women has worsened, marked by stricter social restrictions and harsher punishments—reflecting the government’s hardline stance on women. The rising number of women executions, along with broader repression, points to a deliberate policy of sustained government pressure and limitations on women.

 

10. Nationwide Protests and Suppression

• Right to Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly: Articles 19 and 21 of the ICCPR
• Last year, nearly 4,000 protests, strikes, and demonstrations took place.
• Participants included:
  • Retirees
  • Workers
  • Teachers
  • Other segments of society protesting economic hardship and political repression
• One of the most significant acts of resistance was the ongoing hunger strike by political prisoners in 38 prisons, known as “No to Executions Tuesdays.”
• This hunger strike reached its 60th week and stands as a protest against the death penalty and broader human rights violations within Iranian prisons.