In the Iranian year 1403 (2023-2024), executions surged to an unprecedented total of 1,153, representing a 42% increase from the previous year, which recorded 815 executions.

This significant rise has been attributed to the domestic and regional challenges faced by the Iranian government under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has documented these figures as part of its ongoing monitoring of human rights violations in the country.

The escalation in executions, particularly in the context of Khamenei's regional ambitions, appears to contradict the regime's strategies intended to avert internal dissent.

Tensions in the Middle East have reportedly increased as Tehran has invested heavily in maintaining influence in the region, particularly in Syria, which has been described as vital to its strategic interests.

However, the decline of the Assad regime and the loss of control over Syria have compounded domestic issues in Iran.

Khamenei's Nowruz speech marking the start of 1404 (March 21, 2024) reflected on the year’s difficulties, drawing parallels to the tumultuous period of 1981, which was marked by massive protests and significant state repression.

That year, the government's violent suppression of dissent resulted in numerous casualties, including a notable incident in which security forces opened fire on a large protest in Tehran.

In February 2024, during the Iranian month of Esfand, there were 121 executions, nearly six times the amount recorded in the same period the previous year.

This occurred despite Ramadan, traditionally associated with a decrease in executions.

The data shows that under the presidency of Masoud Pezeshkian, 83% of the executions (961 total) took place, raising questions about the purported moderation of his administration.

Among the individuals executed in 1403, at least 38 were women, marking a 90% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, seven executed individuals were minors at the time of their alleged offenses, and seven were executed publicly.

Reports indicate that many executions, particularly those carried out in remote prisons, go unrecorded due to limited access.

Further illustrating the demographic disparities in executions, 135 individuals (approximately 12% of those executed) belonged to the Baluchi ethnic minority, a significant figure given their population size.

Of the 1,153 executed, the ages of 605 are known, with the average age below 36, suggesting a worrying trend among younger individuals.

Significantly, more than half of the executions were related to drug offenses, despite the existence of extensive drug trafficking networks allegedly controlled by factions associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In response to the rising death toll, a campaign known as “Tuesdays Against Executions” has emerged, organized by Iranian resistance leader Maryam Rajavi and continuing for over 61 weeks.

This initiative involves hunger strikes in prisons across Iran every Tuesday, a day historically associated with the highest number of executions.

Currently, 38 prisons participate in this protest.

The UK Parliament has seen over 250 members from various political parties unite in condemnation of the rising number of executions, calling for an immediate halt to the practice.

In related human rights concerns, reports have emerged detailing harsh sentences against female prisoners, including stoning, which highlights the severe treatment of women under the Iranian legal system.

Calls for international action emphasize the need for governments to condition their relations with Iran on improvements in human rights and the cessation of state-sponsored executions.