"Iran has executed 29 people in a single day as part of a spree of executions."
Arpit Pattnaik
Iran carried out a mass execution, executing at least 29 people on Wednesday morning in two prisons located near the capital, Tehran. The execution took place while the world was focused on news of a potential attack on Israel. According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization (HRNGO), 26 prisoners were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison and three were executed in Karaj Central Prison.
"The Islamic Republic is currently engaged in mass killing prisoners and intensifying suppression in Iran," said HRNGO director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam in a statement on Wednesday, exploiting global attention on its tension with Israel.
Out of the 29 individuals who were executed, 17 were convicted for murder, seven for drug-related charges, and three for rape. HRNGO also mentioned receiving unconfirmed reports of two women being executed on Wednesday in addition to the 29 individuals.
According to HRNGO, at least 87 people have been executed in Iran in the month following the presidential elections on July 6. This brings the total number of executions in 2024 to 338 as of Wednesday.
Amnesty International reported that Iran carried out 853 executions in 2023, the highest number in eight years. The report also indicated that 64 percent of the executions in 2023 were for crimes that did not warrant the death penalty under international law, including drug-related offenses, robbery, and espionage.
Since the alleged Israeli assassination of Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, Iran has threatened to retaliate. Global powers have been intervening to calm tensions as fears rise of an escalation between the two archenemies.
In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel, firing 350 missiles, rockets, and drones. Most of the projectiles were intercepted by Israel and a US-led coalition.
However, Tehran's threats suggest that this retaliatory attack would be even more severe, while the US and Russia have been urging for calm.
