U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City Sept. 23, 2025. (OSV News photo/Mike Segar, Reuters) More than 1,000 people have already been executed in Iran in 2025. UN human rights activists are appalled and accuse the Islamic Republic of carrying out death sentences on an “industrial scale”.
UN human rights experts are deploring an unprecedented wave of executions in Iran. More than 1,000 death sentences have already been carried out in the Islamic Republic this year, according to a statement issued by the United Nations on Monday.
The experts spoke of a “dramatic escalation” that violates international laws. In view of the average of more than nine documented executions per day in recent weeks, this appears to be on an “industrial scale”. In view of the lack of transparency in Iran, human rights activists also assume that the actual number is significantly higher.
Death penalty for drug offences
According to the information provided, a large proportion of the cases involved drug offences. At least 499 people have been executed for these offences this year – a dramatic increase compared to previous years. However, according to the UN, international guidelines restrict the death penalty to the “most serious crimes”. This does not include drug offences.
“The international community cannot remain silent in the face of such systematic violations of the right to life,” the experts continued. Concrete diplomatic measures must be taken to stop the wave of executions in Iran.