Recent findings from Amnesty International underscore a troubling increase in executions worldwide, driven by specific countries and rising enforcement against protesters.
**Global Executions Surge to Highest Rate Since 2015 Amid Death Penalty Trends**
**Global Executions Surge to Highest Rate Since 2015 Amid Death Penalty Trends**
An alarming report reveals a spike in global executions, sparking renewed debates on capital punishment.
The number of executions worldwide has climbed to the highest level since 2015, according to Amnesty International's latest report. In 2024, over 1,500 executions were recorded globally, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounting for a staggering 1,380 of these cases. Meanwhile, the United States executed 25 individuals. Despite the uptick, the report notes that only 15 countries are actively implementing the death penalty, marking the lowest figure yet recorded for the second consecutive year.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, expressed hope, asserting that "the tide is turning" against capital punishment and predicting a future free from its constraints. These latest figures represent an increase since 2015, when at least 1,634 executions were documented, but the actual number may be much higher due to undisclosed figures in countries like China, where Amnesty believes thousands of executions occur annually. Furthermore, the organization could not access information from North Korea and Vietnam due to state secrecy laws surrounding death penalty data.
The report, titled "Death Sentences and Executions 2024," attributes the rise in recorded executions largely to the actions of Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Notably, Iraq nearly quadrupled its execution rate, with documented cases jumping from at least 16 to at least 63. Saudi Arabia's executions rose dramatically from 172 to at least 345, while Iran's numbers climbed from at least 853 to at least 972.
Amnesty identified two primary drivers behind this resurgence in capital punishment: the weaponization of the death penalty against peaceful protesters and the enforcement of harsh penalties for drug-related crimes. The charity noted that over 40% of executions in 2024 were linked to drug offenses, which it deemed unlawful under international human rights law.
In a contrasting move, Zimbabwe recently passed legislation abolishing the death penalty for non-violent crimes. Additionally, cases in Japan and the United States have seen death row inmates exonerated and granted clemency in recent months. Significantly, in favor of a moratorium on capital punishment, over two-thirds of UN member states voted in a resolution last year, indicating a growing global consensus against the death penalty.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, expressed hope, asserting that "the tide is turning" against capital punishment and predicting a future free from its constraints. These latest figures represent an increase since 2015, when at least 1,634 executions were documented, but the actual number may be much higher due to undisclosed figures in countries like China, where Amnesty believes thousands of executions occur annually. Furthermore, the organization could not access information from North Korea and Vietnam due to state secrecy laws surrounding death penalty data.
The report, titled "Death Sentences and Executions 2024," attributes the rise in recorded executions largely to the actions of Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Notably, Iraq nearly quadrupled its execution rate, with documented cases jumping from at least 16 to at least 63. Saudi Arabia's executions rose dramatically from 172 to at least 345, while Iran's numbers climbed from at least 853 to at least 972.
Amnesty identified two primary drivers behind this resurgence in capital punishment: the weaponization of the death penalty against peaceful protesters and the enforcement of harsh penalties for drug-related crimes. The charity noted that over 40% of executions in 2024 were linked to drug offenses, which it deemed unlawful under international human rights law.
In a contrasting move, Zimbabwe recently passed legislation abolishing the death penalty for non-violent crimes. Additionally, cases in Japan and the United States have seen death row inmates exonerated and granted clemency in recent months. Significantly, in favor of a moratorium on capital punishment, over two-thirds of UN member states voted in a resolution last year, indicating a growing global consensus against the death penalty.
