Executions Worldwide Reach a Decade High - Amnesty International.

In 2024, over 1500 execution cases were recorded in 15 countries, the highest number since 2015, reports Amnesty International.

A total of 1518 death sentences were recorded, the largest number in the last nine years. In comparison, at least 1634 people were executed in 2015.

The highest number of executions occurred in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 91% of all death sentences, totaling 1380 cases. China and Yemen also made it into the top five countries with the highest numbers of executions.

It is worth noting that these figures are incomplete as they do not include data from China, North Korea, and Vietnam. They also do not account for military conflicts in Israel and Syria.

'Some countries that we know are responsible for thousands of executions remain closed. However, fortunately, the countries that impose the death penalty are a minority. In 2024, only 15 countries carried out executions, the lowest level in recorded history for the second consecutive year. This indicates a departure from cruel, inhuman, and outdated punishments.' - quoted Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard.

Usually, the death penalty is applied against opposition, but there is currently an effort to combat drug proliferation. About 40% of executions are carried out for drug offenses. This applies to China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Amnesty International emphasizes that the death penalty should be applied only for 'the most serious crimes,' and drug-related offenses do not fall into this category.

The number of executions worldwide is currently declining, which may indicate a shift in approach to punishment. However, there are still countries that remain the sole minority using the death penalty.