Key takeaways from the recent Amnesty International report reveal:

• The global execution count reached its highest level in nearly a decade.
• Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 91% of documented executions in 2024.
• Over 1,500 executions took place worldwide, marking a 32% increase from 2023.
• Concerns grow over the weaponization of the death penalty against political dissent.
• Drug-related offences constitute over 40% of global executions.

According to a new report from Amnesty International, the number of global executions saw a dramatic increase in 2024, reaching a staggering total of 1,518, the highest since 2015. The report highlights that Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for a huge majority of these cases, contributing to over 91% of known executions.

Iran emerged as the leader in executions, with at least 972 individuals put to death, which is an increase from 853 the previous year. Following Iran, Saudi Arabia recorded at least 345 executions, a figure that has doubled from 172 in 2023, marking it as the highest documented number in the country’s history according to Amnesty International. Iraq also saw a significant rise, with executions increasing nearly fourfold, from 16 to at least 63.

"The death penalty is an abhorrent crime with no place in today’s world," stated Agnes Callamard, the Secretary General of Amnesty. The report notes that Iran utilized the death penalty as a tool to suppress ongoing protests, especially in response to the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini. Similarly, Saudi Arabia, governed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, continues to use capital punishment as a means to silence political dissent amidst a tumultuous human rights landscape.

Amnesty also emphasized that over 40% of executions globally were related to drug offences. This trend is prevalent not only in the Middle East but also in countries like China and Singapore, which are notorious for their strict drug policies. The report condemns these practices, stating that such laws disproportionately impact marginalized groups and fail to address the root causes of drug-related crimes.

In the U.S., a report noted a marginal rise in executions, increasing from 24 to 25, nevertheless raising concerns due to the resumed capital punishments in multiple states. This is particularly troubling given the historical lows in execution rates witnessed in recent years.

Despite the alarming increase in executions, the report indicates a glimmer of hope—with 145 countries having abolished the death penalty in law or practice, and measures being considered by nations like Zimbabwe to abolish it altogether. “It’s evident that states that retain the death penalty are an isolated minority,” Callamard added in a statement.

The pervasive trend across the Middle East raises questions about international relations, particularly concerning key U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia, which faces scrutiny over its human rights practices while balancing its geopolitical importance in the region.