With 2024 seeing over 1,500 executions, concerns about capital punishment practices are underscored, particularly in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Global Executions Surge to Decade High, Amnesty Report Reveals
Global Executions Surge to Decade High, Amnesty Report Reveals
A recent Amnesty International report highlights a troubling rise in state executions globally, marking the highest level seen since 2015.
According to a recent report from Amnesty International, the number of executions worldwide has surged to its highest level in a decade, with over 1,500 executions reported in 2024. This number represents a drastic increase, particularly from Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, which combined accounted for 1,380 of those executions. The United States, in contrast, reported 25 executions. Despite this alarming rise in figures, the total number of countries still enforcing the death penalty has dropped to 15, the lowest recorded number for the second consecutive year.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General, emphasized a shift in global attitudes towards capital punishment, stating that the "tide is turning" and predicting a future devoid of the death penalty. While the reported figures are the highest since 2015, it is believed that the actual number is even greater since countries like China, which reportedly conducts thousands of executions annually, are not included in Amnesty’s statistics due to state secrets.
The report, titled "Death Sentences and Executions 2024," noted that the increase in executions can largely be attributed to the state-sanctioned response to protests and a crackdown on drug-related offenses. Over 40% of executions were linked to drug crimes, which Amnesty argues contravenes international human rights law.
On a more hopeful note, Zimbabwe recently abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes, and significant developments occurred in Japan and the US, where death row inmates were acquitted and granted clemency, respectively. Additionally, last year saw a notable consensus amongst UN member states, with over two-thirds voting in favor of a moratorium on the death penalty, highlighting the potential for further reform in the international approach to capital punishment.
