Iran's Public Executions: A Chilling Reality Unveiled
Table of Contents
- Historical Roots and Fluctuations
- The Resurgence of Public Executions Post-1979
- Methods and the Macabre Spectacle
- The Human Cost and Psychological Impact
- Alarming Escalation in Recent Years
- International Condemnation and Human Rights Advocacy
- Cases and Controversies
- The Urgent Call for Change
Historical Roots and Fluctuations
The history of public executions in Iran is a complex tapestry woven with threads of tradition, revolution, and political shifts. During the Qajar Dynasty, public executions occurred regularly, serving as a visible demonstration of state power and justice. However, with the advent of the Persian Constitutional Revolution in the early 20th century, this practice began to decline, reflecting a broader societal shift towards modernization and human rights principles. Under the Pahlavi Dynasty, public executions became a rare occurrence, largely restricted between the 1920s and 1950s. This period marked a significant move away from the public spectacle of capital punishment, aligning Iran more closely with evolving international norms. The trajectory, however, dramatically reversed with the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. Following the revolution, capital punishment and public executions returned on an unprecedented scale. This resurgence was not merely a return to an old practice but an intensification, embedding public hangings deeply into the state's judicial and social control mechanisms. The diagram showing public executions since 2008 illustrates a fluctuating but persistent presence of this practice. While there was a purported ban on public executions in 2008, Amnesty International noted that this moratorium had not gone into effect as of 2011, indicating a gap between stated policy and grim reality.The Resurgence of Public Executions Post-1979
The period following the 1979 Islamic Revolution saw a dramatic increase in the number of executions, with public hangings becoming a common feature of the Iranian landscape. These executions, often carried out from mobile cranes, became a tool for the state to assert control and instill fear. The rationale often cited by authorities includes deterrence and maintaining public order, particularly in cases involving serious crimes like murder or armed robbery. For instance, Iranian authorities on a Monday executed two men in public over the killing of a police officer during an armed robbery. This highlights the state's immediate and public response to perceived threats to its authority or security personnel. However, human rights groups widely condemn this practice, arguing that it is inherently cruel, inhumane, and degrading. They assert that far from deterring crime, public executions contribute to a culture of violence and desensitization within society. The very act of witnessing such an event can be deeply traumatizing, not only for the condemned and their families but also for the general public, including children, who may inadvertently or deliberately witness these horrific scenes. The resurgence of public executions is seen by many as a deliberate tactic by the regime to suppress dissent and maintain control, particularly in times of heightened social unrest or political instability.Methods and the Macabre Spectacle
In Iran, executions are primarily carried out by hanging. While private hangings within prisons are more common, public executions often involve the use of mobile cranes. This method, while not always used, has been a distinctive feature of public hangings in Iran. For example, executions conducted in public with a crane have been rare in recent years, though Iran used the same manner of hanging to put down unrest following the disputed 2009 presidential election and the Green Movement protests that followed. This demonstrates a clear link between the method of execution and its use as a tool for political suppression. The spectacle itself is designed to be highly visible and impactful. Images published of public executions often show a man, whose hands were tied, hanged by a crane. These images, while horrifying, are sometimes shared to document the events. However, opponents believe that sharing such videos helps promote a culture of violence in Iran fueled by acts such as public executions. The public nature of these events transforms a judicial punishment into a public display of power, intended to send a clear and chilling message to the populace. The location of these executions can vary, from city squares to specific designated areas, often drawing crowds, whether by compulsion or morbid curiosity. The precise timing, such as the execution taking place at 6 a.m. in the Baghe Behesht area of Hamedan on a Tuesday, November 12, 2024, indicates a level of planning and precision in these grim proceedings.The Human Cost and Psychological Impact
The human cost of public executions extends far beyond the life of the condemned. As Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) warns, "public hanging is an inhumane, cruel and degrading act that not only victimises the defendant but also the general public." This statement encapsulates the profound and widespread trauma inflicted by such events. For the families of those executed, the public nature of their loved one's death adds an unbearable layer of grief, shame, and helplessness. They are forced to witness or live with the knowledge of a public spectacle that strips their relative of dignity in their final moments. For the general public, especially those who witness these events, the psychological impact can be severe. It can foster a climate of fear, suppressing dissent and free expression. Children, in particular, are highly vulnerable to the traumatic effects of witnessing such violence, which can normalize brutality and desensitize them to human suffering. The sight of a human being hanged in public, whether it's an undated photo of Shoeib Rezapour or a video reportedly shot in late February, leaves an indelible mark on the collective consciousness. It reinforces the state's absolute power and the severe consequences of defying its laws, creating an environment where self-censorship and compliance become survival mechanisms. The very act is designed to terrorize, making it a tool of social control rather than a measure of justice.Alarming Escalation in Recent Years
The data on public executions in Iran reveals a deeply troubling trend, particularly in the most recent years. While public executions like Mahdi’s are rare in Iran, even though more people are executed there than in any other nation other than China, the overall pace of executions has seen an unprecedented acceleration. This surge is widely attributed to the regime's fear of popular uprisings, with Khamenei’s executioners gripped by fear of a public outburst, drastically accelerating the pace of executions.The 2023 Surge
Since 2022, public executions have started rising, with numbers more than tripling in 2023 compared to 2022. This alarming increase is part of a broader surge in capital punishment. According to the 17th annual report on the death penalty in Iran, published jointly by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and ECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty), the year 2023 witnessed at least 834 recorded executions. This already represented a significant number, setting the stage for an even more horrifying escalation in the following year. Amnesty International, working closely with the Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre, meticulously recorded the number of executions carried out in 2023, drawing from open sources including reports by state media, independent media, and human rights organizations, and reviewing execution logs of Iran Human Rights and Kurdistan Human Rights Network. This collaborative effort ensures robust data collection on a highly sensitive issue.The Alarming 2024 Figures
The year 2024 has witnessed a horrifying escalation in the use of the death penalty by the Islamic Republic. The same joint report by IHRNGO and ECPM reveals at least 975 executions in 2024, marking a 17% increase from the 834 recorded in 2023. This surge represents the highest number of recorded executions in the past 17 years. Of the 975 people executed, four people were hanged in public. This includes the first public execution of the year on August 26, when Amirreza Ajam Akrami, a man in his early 20s, was hanged for killing a lawyer. His death came as weekly hunger strikes in 18 Iranian prisons in protest of the regime’s surge of executions entered their 31st week, highlighting the resistance to these brutal practices. The gender disparity in these figures is also stark: 31 women were among those executed in 2024, also the highest figure for the past 17 years. Sunday’s public hanging followed the execution of at least 14 prisoners on New Year’s Day in several prisons across four cities in Iran, including four women who were hanged in Shahab Prison in Kerman (southern Iran). Another group of seven prisoners was also hanged in Shahab Prison on the same day. These figures paint a grim picture of a state increasingly relying on capital punishment, including public displays, as a means of control.International Condemnation and Human Rights Advocacy
The international community, particularly human rights organizations, has consistently and vociferously condemned Iran's practice of public executions. Iran remains one of the few countries to conduct public executions, a practice widely condemned by human rights groups. Organizations like Amnesty International, Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), and ECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty) are at the forefront of documenting these abuses and advocating for their cessation. They tirelessly collect data, publish reports, and raise awareness about the scale and brutality of these acts. Iran Human Rights specifically warns about the return of public hangings to Iranian streets and urges the international community to deal seriously with this type of execution in Iran. Their advocacy highlights that such acts are not merely judicial processes but a profound violation of human dignity and international human rights law. The UN and various governments have repeatedly called on Iran to halt all executions, especially those conducted publicly, emphasizing that such practices violate fundamental principles of humanity and justice. The persistent condemnation underscores the global consensus against the barbarity of public executions and the urgent need for Iran to adhere to international human rights standards.Cases and Controversies
Each public execution in Iran represents a life lost and a story of profound injustice, often shrouded in controversy. While the state media might report on cases such as an Iranian man convicted of raping dozens of women over the past two decades being executed in public, the broader context and due process are often questioned by human rights groups. The lack of transparency in judicial proceedings, the use of confessions extracted under torture, and the denial of fair trials are common criticisms leveled against Iran's justice system. One such case might involve someone like Salamat, also known as Ali Salamat, who was arrested approximately 18 months prior to his execution. The details surrounding such arrests and subsequent trials are frequently opaque, making it difficult to ascertain the full truth of the charges and the fairness of the conviction. The public display of these executions, such as the reported video shot in late February, further fuels controversy, with human rights advocates arguing that such acts are designed to terrorize the population rather than serve justice. These controversies highlight the deep chasm between the state's narrative and the concerns of human rights defenders who meticulously document these cases, striving to bring accountability and transparency to a system often perceived as arbitrary and brutal.The Urgent Call for Change
The horrifying escalation in the use of the death penalty, particularly the return and increase of public executions, necessitates an urgent and robust response from the international community. Iran has signalled more executions could be carried out amid condemnation by rights groups, indicating a defiance that requires sustained pressure. The current trajectory, marked by a record number of executions in 2024, underscores the critical need for immediate intervention. Human rights organizations, including Iran Human Rights and Amnesty International, continue to be vital in documenting these abuses and advocating for an end to capital punishment in Iran, especially its public manifestation. They call for concrete actions from governments worldwide, including targeted sanctions against officials involved in human rights abuses, diplomatic pressure, and support for Iranian civil society. The aim is not only to halt the practice of Iran public execution but also to encourage fundamental reforms within Iran's judicial system that uphold human rights and ensure fair trials. The global community must continue to speak out, ensuring that the victims of these brutal acts are not forgotten and that the call for justice and humanity resonates loudly enough to bring about meaningful change. The fight against public executions in Iran is a testament to the enduring struggle for human dignity and the universal rejection of cruelty. It is a call to action for everyone who believes in justice and the sanctity of human life. If you found this article informative, please consider sharing it to raise awareness about the critical human rights situation in Iran. Your engagement helps amplify the voices of those working tirelessly for change. We also invite you to explore other articles on our site that delve deeper into human rights issues around the world.- Logo Iran
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