Sharp Increase in Executions Worldwide Reported by Amnesty International
According to Amnesty International's annual report released on Wednesday, the number of executions worldwide surged to 1,153 in 2023. This figure marks the highest number since 2015, representing a rise of more than 30% compared to 2022. The sharp increase in executions was primarily driven by Middle Eastern countries, with Iran being a significant contributor.
Iran witnessed a worrying spike in executions, executing at least 853 individuals in 2023, a considerable rise from the 576 executed in 2022. According to Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General, 'Iranian authorities showed utter disregard for human life and escalated executions for drug-related crimes, further highlighting the discriminatory impact of the death penalty on Iran's most marginalized and impoverished communities'. The Baloch minority was disproportionately affected, accounting for 20% of the recorded executions despite comprising only 5% of the population.
The report noted that among the five countries with the highest execution numbers were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States. In Iran alone, 74% of executions attributed to drug-related offenses have nearly doubled since 2022. Amnesty emphasizes that many of these executions were carried out for crimes that do not warrant the death penalty under international law, such as drug offenses, theft, and espionage. Concerns also extend to the use of the death penalty for individuals who were minors at the time of the crime.
Death Penalty Trends in Other Regions
In the United States, the number of executions rose from 18 in 2022 to 24 in 2023. Specific states have shown a 'chilling commitment to the death penalty,' introducing bills to expand methods of execution. This includes potential measures to carry out executions by firing squad in Idaho and Tennessee and the concealment of execution identities in South Carolina.
Sub-Saharan Africa also saw a rise in executions, with Somalia being the only country in the region responsible for recorded executions, increasing from 11 in 2022 to 38 in 2023. The number of death sentences in the region rose by 66%, totaling 494. The report highlights the arbitrariness and discrimination inherent in the death penalty's application.
The report also acknowledged positive developments in some countries. Pakistan abolished the death penalty for drug offenses and Malaysia ended automatic death sentences for certain crimes. Conversely, despite these positive strides, the overall trend in 2023 signals a deepening crisis in the use of the death penalty worldwide.
- Amnesty International did not include exact figures for China, the world’s leading executioner, due to state secrecy but estimates that thousands were executed. North Korea and Vietnam also conceal their execution data, contributing to global ambiguity on the true extent of executions.
- In contrast, some nations are making progress towards abolishing the death penalty. The number of countries performing executions fell to sixteen in 2023, an all-time low. Nations like Belarus, Japan, Myanmar, and South Sudan reported no executions last year.
