The Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran has published its statistical report on executions for May 2025, based on verified and credible data. According to this report, at least 175 prisoners<\/strong> were hanged across prisons in Iran during this month. This figure reflects a new wave of organised killings through capital punishment, which has intensified in the current year. Amid escalating internal crises and the regime\u2019s structural incapacity to address them, the instrumental use of the death penalty has once again surged \u2014 clearly indicating the political nature of executions in Iran.<\/p>\n Since the start of 2025, at least 577 prisoners<\/strong> have been executed in various cities across the country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Systematic Violation of International Standards on the Use of the Death Penalty<\/strong><\/p>\n While a large part of the global community is moving toward limiting and abolishing capital punishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains the second-highest executing country in the world and systematically disregards fundamental human rights principles.<\/p>\n Despite being a signatory to several major international human rights treaties, Iran has shown no genuine commitment to upholding its obligations and repeatedly violates the following conventions:<\/p>\n Emphasises the right to life, prohibition of torture, and guarantees of fair trial \u2014 all routinely breached in Iran.<\/p>\n Explicitly bans the execution of individuals under the age of 18 \u2014 a provision Iran frequently ignores.<\/p>\n Although Iran is not \u00a0a signatory to this convention, its laws and practices regarding executed women exacerbate structural discrimination and violence against women.<\/p>\n These safeguards restrict capital punishment to \u201cthe most serious crimes\u201d and require a fully fair and flawless trial \u2014 conditions rarely met in Iran.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What follows is a detailed analysis of these executions, compared to previous months and the same period last year \u2014 broken down by city, gender, charge, ethnicity, and nationality.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Total Executions:<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the Statistics Centre of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, the 175 executions carried out in May mark a 32% increase<\/strong> compared to April. Compared with the same period last year, this figure reflects an 80% rise<\/strong>, which is not only rare but also unprecedented over the past two decades<\/strong> \u2014 painting a daunting picture of the deterioration in the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.<\/p>\n In May, an average of more than five prisoners were executed each day \u2014 nearly one person every four hours.<\/strong> This surge coincides with growing public discontent over socio-economic crises, including frequent power outages, water shortages, rampant inflation, and unaffordable living costs. Against this backdrop, the regime appears to be resorting to executions with higher intensity, seemingly in fear of social unrest.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, 22 May<\/strong> alone, at least 22 prisoners<\/strong> were executed across various prisons \u2014 an unprecedented and shocking figure<\/strong> that highlights the regime\u2019s deliberate and brutal strategy of using the death penalty to instil fear and maintain control over society.<\/p>\n This trend is a serious warning to the international community and human rights organisations<\/strong> to respond urgently and effectively to the renewed wave of executions and widespread repression in Iran.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The chart below illustrates the steep rise in executions over the past five months:<\/p>\n According to the above chart, a sharply increasing trend in executions across Iran is evident. In March, the number of executions dropped slightly, likely due to the Nowruz holidays and the month of Ramadan. However, in April, this decrease was fully offset as the Islamic Republic authorities resumed executions at an accelerating pace.<\/p>\n This upward trajectory, taking place in the heavy silence of the international community, has severely tarnished the face of human rights and human dignity. The silence in response to the Islamic Republic’s systematic crimes\u2014particularly regarding executions\u2014must be broken. The international community must demand an end to the judiciary immunity enjoyed by Iranian officials and must put mechanisms in place to hold them accountable for grave human rights violations, especially those committed by the judiciary.<\/p>\n The only effective response to this mounting wave of executions is strong international pressure for their immediate halt and for initiating a process of justice and accountability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Analysis by Charge Type<\/strong> The pie chart below shows the proportion of executions by charge category:<\/p>\n As shown in the above chart, 79 prisoners were executed for drug-related offences and 84 for murder (qisas) in May.<\/p>\n Executions for drug-related offences remain one of the Islamic Republic\u2019s hidden and silent atrocities, continuing for years under the radar of the international community. Most of those sentenced to death in such cases are small-scale users or street-level dealers\u2014individuals pushed into this path by poverty, marginalisation, and lack of access to social and treatment services.<\/p>\n In contrast, large-scale trafficking networks\u2014often managed or protected by powerful institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and security agencies\u2014continue operating freely, with no prosecutions. To date, no high-ranking official, affiliate, or accomplice from these networks has been arrested or tried.<\/p>\n Numerous reports and eyewitness accounts highlight that arrests, interrogations, and trials of these prisoners often take place without access to legal representation, in violation of fair trial standards, and in many cases involve torture and forced confessions\u2014culminating in execution verdicts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bar chart below presents an overview of execution trends during the first five months of 2025:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Geographical Spread of Executions<\/strong> <\/p>\n Analysis Based on the Characteristics of the Executed Individuals<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethnicity<\/strong> <\/p>\n Execution of Foreign Nationals<\/strong> <\/p>\n Gender and Age <\/strong><\/p>\n Women<\/strong> Names of some women executed in May 2025 include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Many of these women were disowned by their families and lacked access to independent legal representation or social support, leaving them defenceless in a deeply flawed judicial process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Juvenile Offenders<\/strong> Documented Cases:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Government Concealment<\/strong>\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n The chart below shows the proportion of officially reported executions versus concealed executions:<\/p>\n\n
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\nAs in previous months, those executed in May faced charges such as drug-related offences, murder (qisas), political and security-related charges, espionage, moharebeh (e.g. armed robbery), and rape.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe 175 executions recorded in May, took place across 44 cities. The highest number of executions occurred in the two prisons of Karaj, with Ghezel Hesar Prison reporting the most.
\nThe bar chart below illustrates the geographical distribution of these executions by prison:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn May, at least 29 Baluchi prisoners were executed\u2014about 17% of all those executed\u2014despite the fact that Baluchis make up only around 3% of Iran\u2019s population. This stark disparity between the Baluchi community\u2019s share of the population and their proportion of executions reflects structural discrimination and the targeted suppression of this ethnic minority, which has long faced poverty, deprivation, and unjust judicial treatment.
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\nAccording to verified reports, Iranian authorities executed at least six Afghan nationals in May 2025, accounting for approximately 3% of all executions during the month. These executions violate international legal standards\u2014including Articles 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other conventions related to migrant rights\u2014which oblige states to guarantee foreign nationals the right to a fair trial, consular notification, and effective legal defence. However, reports indicate that these individuals were denied fair trial standards, access to legal counsel, and communication with their diplomatic representatives. Such practices not only breach Iran\u2019s international obligations, but also constitute blatant violations of human dignity and the fundamental rights of foreign prisoners.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAccording to data collected by the Prisoners\u2019 Rights League of Iran, the execution of women in May rose by 40% compared to previous months. Verified reports received by the League confirm that at least 8 women were executed in various prisons across Iran during this month\u2014making up a substantial proportion of the total 21 women executed so far this year.
\nMost of these women were charged with murder and sentenced to death without adequate access to legal defence or fair trial rights. Case reviews and witness testimonies reveal extensive violations of due process throughout their prosecutions.<\/p>\n\n
\nDespite its obligations under international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to execute individuals who were under 18 at the time of the alleged offence. According to records from the Prisoners\u2019 Rights League of Iran, at least three juvenile offenders were executed in Iranian prisons in May.<\/p>\n\n
\nThis juvenile was arrested at the age of\u00a016<\/strong>\u00a0and charged with murder under torture and pressure during interrogation. It is reported that the killing occurred in\u00a0self-defence against sexual assault<\/strong>. Nevertheless,\u00a0immediately after turning 18<\/strong>, his execution was carried out. This act not only violates international human rights standards but also indicates a deliberate strategy to circumvent international law.<\/li>\n
\nAt the time of the alleged offence, this child was only\u00a013 years old<\/strong>. He was accused of murder and, after several years in prison, was executed at the age of\u00a019<\/strong>, despite the fact that the crime occurred while he was underage. His execution is a clear violation of the principles of a fair trial.<\/li>\n
\nThere is limited information available about his case. However, reports indicate that\u00a0he was also under 18 at the time of the alleged offence<\/strong>\u00a0and was ultimately executed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n