Amnesty International: "Global Executions Increased by 31% Last Year Compared to Previous Year"

At least 853 Cases in Iran... 74% Proportion

Amnesty International reported that the number of executions worldwide last year reached 1,153, marking a 31% increase compared to the previous year.

According to a report published by Amnesty International on the 29th (local time), the number of executions last year was the highest since 2015 (1,634 cases), while the number of countries carrying out executions decreased from 20 in 2022 to 16.

Amnesty stated that statistics from China, the world's largest executioner, were not included in this report due to the lack of clear information. Amnesty estimates that thousands of executions are carried out annually in China alone. North Korea and Vietnam are also known to carry out executions extensively, but their figures were not included.

The country with the highest proportion was Iran. Iran accounted for the largest share with at least 853 cases (74%), a 48% increase from 576 in 2022. Amnesty pointed out that at least 545 of the executions in Iran were for offenses such as drug-related crimes, robbery, and espionage, which under international law should not be punishable by death.

Following Iran were Saudi Arabia with 172 cases, Somalia with at least 38 cases, and the United States with 24 cases. In the U.S., executions increased by 6 from 18 in 2022.

Globally, the number of death sentences handed down last year totaled 2,428, a 20% increase from 2,016 the previous year.

However, the number of countries abolishing the death penalty continues to rise. As of the end of last year, 112 countries had completely abolished the death penalty, and when including countries with legal or de facto abolition, the total reached 144. Pakistan abolished the death penalty for drug-related crimes, and Malaysia abolished the mandatory death sentence.

In sub-Saharan Africa, no countries have abolished the death penalty, but abolition bills are pending in Kenya, Liberia, and Zimbabwe. In Ghana, the parliament voted in favor of two bills to remove the death penalty from current law, but legislation had not been completed by the end of last year.

Khalamar, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said, "A small number of countries insisting on the death penalty must completely abolish it in line with the times," and added, "Amnesty urges all governments to join the UN call to abolish the death penalty as a significant commitment to human rights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.