Suspicion is the first thing that comes to mind when recipients hear about government executions under the name of death sentencesthose issued by the regime of the mullahs in Iran against innocent people, even if some are convicted of drug crimes or other offenses. However, most of these rulings since the establishment of this dictatorial regime are driven by political motives against opponents of their aggressive policies towards the Iranian people. This hostile policy has reached the extent of using religion to issue religious fatwas to implement the hadd of al-hiraba (waging war against God) to take the lives of Iranian opponents who do not meet the conditions for applying this punishment.  

This was the case with members of the Iranian opposition organization Mujahedin-e Khalq, where more than 30,000 of Iran's best citizens were lost in 1988 alone due to the hiraba fatwa issued by Khomeini, the high priest of the mullahs at that time. According to this approach, the issue of death sentences in Iran remains one of the most controversial topics regionally and internationally, with narratives varying between the Iranian authorities affirming the legitimacy of these sentences under a legal framework called Islamic law and the preservation of social security, and human rights organizations condemning this regime’s use of capital punishment as a tool of political repression and discrimination against minorities.  

Statistics show that Iran ranks second after China in the number of executions annually, having carried out at least 853 executions in 2023 alone, which is the highest figure recorded in eight years. In terms of proportion, the mullah regime may surpass China in government executions for many reasons, including China’s large population and its status as a targeted country.  

Reports from organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch indicate that Iran is one of the top countries for the rate of executions each year, often related to drug crimes or accusations concerning national security, which they call "fighting Allah" and "corruption on earth." These organizations, along with human rights activists, emphasize that the trials preceding these sentences lack international justice standards, including the right to adequate legal representation, access to evidence, and justice in confessions obtained under torture. There is also concern over the execution of minors (under 18 at the time of the crime) and the use of capital punishment against ethnic and religious minorities.  

On the other hand, the authorities of the regime of the mullahs in Iran claim that executions are only carried out for the most serious crimes and are based on principles of Islamic law and internal laws approved by parliament, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary and that the legal procedures followed ensure justice for the accused. Regarding accusations of repression, Tehran often responds that executions target dangerous criminals and inciters of violence and terrorism, threatening the security and stability of the country, and that international criticisms are merely a political campaign against the regime. They also point out that some drug-related accusations aim to combat cross-border drug trafficking networks affecting national security and society. All these broad claims are completely false and are refuted by the regime’s practices as well as the cases and victims.  

Shocking Figures: Execution Statistics in Iran 

Data from reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch show a concerning increase in the pace of executions in recent years. In 2023, Iran recorded 853 executions—up 48% from 2022 and 172% from 2021. Drug crimes accounted for 56% of all executions in 2023 (481 cases), and the expansion of drug crimes was actually caused by the regime itself. Many officials and key figures within the mullah regime participate in drug trafficking, just as they did in Iraq and Syria, with regional militia forces now owning billions of dollars from this illicit trade.  

The executions of political detainees related to their participation in protests in 2022 have also highlighted the regime’s brutality. Previous years saw 977 executions in 2015, 567 in 2016, and 507 in 2017.  

Crimes Punishable by Death: Between Legal Texts and Field Application 

Iran’s laws list over 80 crimes punishable by execution, including:  
- Counter-national security crimes: fighting against God, corruption on earth, conspiracy against the regime, espionage.  
- Drug crimes: large-scale trafficking and smuggling of drugs.  
- Religious border crimes: adultery (with difficult proof), homosexuality, apostasy, blasphemy.  
- Violent crimes: intentional murder, rape, attacks on children.  

Final Message  
History does not forgive, and peoples do not forget. Appeasement with tyrants does not bring peace; rather, it prolongs tyranny. If the West truly cares about peace and the future of nations, it must reconsider its calculations and restore its ethical compass. Defending human rights is not a political choice; it is a civilizational obligation. Silence regarding the crimes of the regime of the mullahs is a betrayal of the values on which Western democracies are built.  

Today’s silence will be a stain on tomorrow’s conscience, and today’s appeasement will be a source of regret when everyone realizes that supporting dictatorships only produces hatred, extremism, and explosions. Will the Western conscience awaken before it is too late? And let everyone remember that those who overthrew the Shah and his dictatorial regime are capable of overthrowing the mullah gangs, even if the West supports them tacitly.  

Dr. Sami Khater