Amnesty International’s recently released report, “Death Sentences and Executions 2024,” has raised serious global concern. The report highlights a dramatic increase in recorded executions worldwide, reaching 1,518 cases—the highest number in nearly a decade.
This alarming surge reflects not only a rise in capital punishment but also points to its troubling use as a tool for political suppression and targeting of vulnerable communities.
Key Highlights from the Report
- Total executions in 2024: 1,518 — a 32% increase from 2023 and the highest since 2015.
- Top three countries responsible: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, accounting for 91% of known executions.
- Iran alone executed at least 972 individuals, followed by Saudi Arabia with 345, and Iraq with 63.
- These figures exclude executions in countries such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam, where data remains classified.
Executions for Drug Offences
A shocking 40% of global executions in 2024 were linked to drug-related crimes. Countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore continue to enforce the death penalty for non-violent drug offences.
Amnesty International has condemned this practice, stating that it violates international human rights standards, which restrict the death penalty to only the “most serious crimes.” These laws disproportionately affect the poor, the marginalized, and those with limited legal representation.
The Bigger Picture: Decline in Death Penalty Use
Despite this spike in executions, the global trend still leans toward abolition:
- Only 15 countries carried out executions in 2024—the lowest number ever recorded.
- Over 145 countries have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.
- Notably, Zimbabwe abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 2024.
- The UN General Assembly continues to push for a global moratorium on executions.
The rise in executions is deeply troubling—not just in numbers but in the manner and motive behind many of these punishments. The Death Sentences and Executions 2024 report serves as a stark reminder of how the death penalty continues to be used in violation of international norms, often at the cost of justice and human dignity.
As forensic professionals, legal experts, and human rights advocates, it is essential to understand the broader context of how laws are enforced and how forensic evidence may intersect with capital punishment systems around the world.
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