Death penalty rates at 40-year high globally, Amnesty International says
Amnesty International's latest report reveals that global execution rates have reached a 40-year high, largely driven by Iran's intensified use of the death penalty. Over 2,700 executions were recorded worldwide last year, with Iran accounting for approximately 2,100 of those. The report highlights a concerning trend of authoritarian regimes increasing their reliance on capital punishment as a means of political control.
- ▪The global number of executions rose to over 2,700 last year, marking a 78% increase from 2024.
- ▪Iran executed more than 2,100 people, significantly contributing to the surge in global execution rates.
- ▪Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China and North Korea, continue to use the death penalty for political repression.
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Iran crackdown drives surge in global death penalty figures, Amnesty International report saysBy Doug DingwallTopic:SentencingTue 19 May 2026 at 3:11pmTue 19 May 2026 at 3:11pmTue 19 May 2026 at 3:11pmActivists attend a candlelight vigil in February 2025 against the execution of a man in Singapore for drug trafficking. (AFP: Mohd Firdaus/NurPhoto)In short: Iranian authorities executed more than 2,100 people last year, driving the global number of executions to a four-decade high, according to human rights group Amnesty International's new report.Countries near Australia including Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are not carrying out executions despite many people remaining on death row.What's next?Amnesty says there "are bright spots but still a long way to go" in ending the death penalty…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).