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Global executions sky rocket in 10 years: Which nation tops list?
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Global Surge in Executions (2024)
Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq accounted for 90% of recorded executions, driving the steep spike.
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Iran Leads in Executions
Iran topped the list with at least 972 executions in 2024, a rise from 853 in 2023.
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Saudi Arabia's Execution Surge
Saudi Arabia saw a record 345 executions, double the previous year's total, according to Amnesty International.
Iraq’s Sharp Increase
Iraq's executions rose sharply to 63 in 2024, nearly quadrupling compared to 2023.
China Remains World's Leading Executioner
Amnesty reports that China executed thousands, though it refuses to disclose official data.
Political Dissent Targets in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia continued using executions to target Shi’a minority and protestors from past anti-government protests.
Iran Executes Protester with Mental Illness
Iran executed 23-year-old protester Mohammad Ghobadlou, highlighting the harsh punishments for dissent.
Drug-Related Executions Surge
Over 40% of global executions were tied to drug-related offenses, with Singapore and China among the top offenders.
Malaysia Shows Positive Reform
Malaysia reprieved 1,000 death row inmates after removing mandatory capital punishment for drug trafficking.
US Continues as Western Outlier
The United States remains an outlier, with four states resuming executions in 2024, including the use of nitrogen gas.
Global Shift Toward Abolition
Only 15 countries carried out executions in 2024, signaling a significant shift toward death penalty abolition.
Hope in Africa: Zimbabwe Abolishes Death Penalty
Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty, joining six other African countries in recent years.