Iran Iran executed at least 1,639 in 2025, international NGOs say Rights groups including Amnesty International say Iran carries out the most executions of any nation worldwide per capita, and the most of any country other than China, for which no reliable data is available. 13/04/2026
Iran Iran hangs teenage champion wrestler as part of group execution Rights groups said the trio, who included a teenager who had taken part in international wrestling competitions, were executed without a fair trial and had given confessions under torture. 19/03/2026
Iran Rising executions in Iran suggest use as tool of intimidation, UN says At least 47% of executions carried out in Iran in 2025 had been related to drug offences, the UN human rights office said. 19/01/2026
Iran Tehran denies death sentence for protester despite executions threat Earlier reports said Erfan Soltani's case proceeded over just a few days without a fair trial. He was denied access to a lawyer of his choice and other legal rights from arrest until sentencing. 15/01/2026
Iran Iran protest death toll expected to rise as Tehran blames 'terrorists' On the 18th day of country-wide protests in Iran sparked by persistent hyperinflation leading to anger over cost of living spike, Euronews brings you the latest information amid the regime-imposed information blackout. 14/01/2026
Iran Iran to execute protester days after arrest as Tehran speeds up trials Erfan Soltani, 26, was detained at his home in Fardis on 8 January. Four days later, authorities notified his family a death sentence had been issued and confirmed. 14/01/2026
Afghanistan Afghanistan's Taliban carry out public execution in sports stadium The man had been convicted of killing 13 members of a family, including children, and was executed by one of their relatives, according to police. 02/12/2025
Iran Iran executes alleged Israeli spy amid surge in death penalties The execution came after Iran vowed to confront its enemies after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme this weekend. 29/09/2025
North Korea North Korea executes more for watching foreign films, UN report says North Korean escapees interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office expressed "a clear and strong desire for change". 12/09/2025
Iran Iran executes man accused of Israel espionage and another for IS links Rouzbeh Vadi shared classified information about an Iranian nuclear scientist to Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad, state media reported. 06/08/2025
World News Global execution figures hit highest level in almost a decade Amnesty International says that 1,518 executions were carried out worldwide in 2024, marking a 32% increase on the previous year. 08/04/2025
USA First firing squad execution in 15 years to be carried out in US Unless either the governor of South Carolina or the Supreme Court intervenes, Brad Sigmon will be killed at 6pm on Friday. 07/03/2025
China China executes two men found guilty of killing sprees Fan Weiqu rammed his car into a crowd, killing 35 people, while 21-year-old Xu Jiajin killed eight people and injured 17 in a stabbing attack last year. 20/01/2025
Culture news Pop star Tataloo sentenced to death, Iranian media report Several Iranian media outlets have reported that Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, better known as Tataloo, has been sentenced to death. Contradictory accounts, however, have left uncertainty about the outcome of the pop star’s trial. 20/01/2025
USA Biden commutes most US federal death sentences before Trump's return Outgoing US President Joe Biden commuted 37 out of 40 sentences to life imprisonment amid concerns about Donald Trump's stance on executions. 23/12/2024
Iran Iran ramps up executions as Western countries’ attention falters Iran continues to execute ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protesters as Western countries fail to exercise the same pressure on the country’s government they did in late 2022 and early 2023. 05/03/2024