The fifth annual report of Iran Human Rights (IHR) on the death penalty in Iran is an assessment of how the death penalty was used in 2012. Due to harsh crackdowns on civil society, non-existing freedom of press and lack of transparency of the Iranian judicial system, the present report by no means covers all death penalty cases in Iran.
The report is the result of efforts by human rights defenders, members and affiliates of IHR in Iran who, on some occasions, took serious risks to help provide a more accurate picture of the death penalty than the official channels do.
The number of executions in 2012 in Iran is among the highest in more than 15 years. Besides the confirmed numbers, it is believed there is a large number of unannounced executions.
Annual 2012 report at a glance:
• At least 580 people were executed in 2012 in Iran.
• 294 cases (51%) were reported by official Iranian sources.
• 286 cases included in the annual numbers were reported by unofficial sources.
• Only 85 out of the estimated 325 secret executions carried out in Vakilabad Prison in 2012 are included in the present report.
• At least 76% of executions included in this report were due to drug related charges.
• 60 executions were carried out in public in 2012. 46% of all public executions were carried out in the province of Fars (southern Iran).
• One third (20) of those executed in public were convicted of drug-related charges.
• At least 27 Afghan citizens and one Pakistani citizen were executed in in 2012.
• At least 9 women were executed in 2012.
• IHR has received reports of secret or ‘un-announced’ executions in more than 15 different Iranian prisons.
Source: Iran Human Rights, April 4, 2013