The global landscape of state executions has witnessed a concerning trend, reaching its highest level in a decade, according to a recent report by Amnesty International. In 2024, over 1,500 recorded executions took place, with countries like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United States accounting for a significant portion of these executions.
Despite the alarming rise in executions, the report also highlighted a positive development – the total number of countries carrying out the death penalty has decreased to 15, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year. Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard, expressed optimism that the “tide is turning” on capital punishment, emphasizing that it is only a matter of time before the world is free from the shadow of the gallows.
While the reported figures are the highest since 2015, the actual number of executions worldwide is likely higher, as the data does not include executions in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam. These countries, especially China, are believed to carry out thousands of executions annually, but due to strict secrecy surrounding death penalty statistics, accurate figures are hard to obtain.
The report pointed out that Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were primarily responsible for the surge in known executions. Iraq saw a nearly fourfold increase in executions, while Saudi Arabia and Iran doubled and increased their executions, respectively. The use of capital punishment for drug-related offenses and against protesters were cited as the main reasons for the spike in executions.
In a positive turn of events, Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 2024, and there have been cases where death row inmates in Japan and the US were acquitted and granted clemency. Additionally, more than two-thirds of UN member states supported a moratorium on the death penalty in the previous year, indicating a global shift towards abolition.
Despite these positive steps, challenges remain in curbing the use of the death penalty worldwide. Amnesty International continues to advocate for the abolition of capital punishment and urges countries to uphold human rights standards in their justice systems. The fight against the death penalty is ongoing, but with concerted efforts, there is hope for a future free from the specter of executions.
