Over the years, the Islamic Republic has almost always been found executing the second largest number of people, with China always being first. But the Islamic Republic’s execution rate per million population is believed by many to be the highest in the world.
In announcing its numbers, ICHRI called on Iran to institute a moratorium on executions. It cited judicial proceedings that are “opaque” and “unfair.”
ICHRI says it believes there have been more executions in recent months. It spoke of perhaps a hundred prisoners being executed in Mashhad last fall.
Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for ICHRI, said, “When executions become the method of choice to solve political and practical problems, human life is being tragically devalued in Iran.”
ICHRI said it learned of the following executions since New Year’s Day: seven in Kerman-shah January 1; 16 in Ahvaz January 5; one is Asfaryan January 8; eight in Qom January 9; seven in Tehran January 12; five in Khorramabad January 13; two in Borujerd January 14; and one in Urumiyeh January 15.
The executions announced publicly were variously for murder, drug trafficking, rape and violent political opposition.