"Global Executions Surge to Near-Decade High, Led by Iran and China"
Amnesty International reports that global executions reached an eight-year high in 2023, with Iran responsible for 74% of the 1,153 known executions. Iran's executions, particularly for drug-related offenses, disproportionately affected marginalized communities. China, though believed to execute thousands, was not included due to secrecy. Saudi Arabia and the US followed Iran in execution numbers. Despite the rise, the number of countries carrying out executions fell to a record low of 16.