A civil rights group, Iran human rights, has revealed that Iran hanged at least 354 individuals in the first six months of 2023, a rate that was substantially higher than in 2022.
It reported 20 percent of all killings in Iran were of members of the Sunni Baluch minority, highlighting concerns that non-Persian ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by executions.
According to the report, 206 persons were executed for drug-related offences, a 126 percent increase over the same period last year.
Six women were executed over this time period, while two men were publicly hanged, according to the report.
“The death penalty is used to create societal fear and prevent more protests,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
“The majority of those killed are low-cost victims of the killing machine, drug defendants who are from the most marginalised communities.”
IHR stated earlier this year that Iran carried out 582 executions in 2022, the highest number in the Islamic republic since 2015.
According to Amnesty International, Iran is the world’s second largest executioner behind China, for which no data is available.
Iranian authorities have murdered seven individuals in protest-related cases, with rights groups warning that at least seven more people arrested in connection with the protests face execution.
