Recorded executions sitting at highest in five years, Amnesty reveals

Recorded executions in 2022 reached the highest figure in five years, as the Middle East and North Africa’s most notorious executioners carried out killing sprees, Amnesty International said yesterday in its annual review of the death penalty.

A total of 883 people are known to have been executed across 20 countries, marking a rise of 53% over 2021. This spike was led by countries in the Middle East and North Africa, where recorded figures rose from 520 in 2021 to 825 in 2022.

“Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region violated international law as they ramped up executions in 2022, revealing a callous disregard for human life,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general.

“The number of individuals deprived of their lives rose dramatically across the region; Saudi Arabia executed a staggering 81 people in a single day.

“Most recently, in a desperate attempt to end the popular uprising, Iran executed people simply for exercising their right to protest.”

Disturbingly, 90% of the world’s known executions outside China were carried out by just three countries in the region.

• Recorded executions in Iran soared from 314 in 2021 to 576; v Figures tripled in Saudi Arabia, from 65 in 2021 to 196 – the highest recorded by Amnesty International in 30 years; and

• Egypt executed 24 people.

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The use of the death penalty remained shrouded in secrecy in several countries, including China, North Korea and Vietnam, countries known to use the death penalty extensively, meaning the true global figure is far higher.

While the precise number of those killed in China is unknown, it is clear the country remained the world’s most prolific executioner, ahead of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the US.

Executions resumed in five countries in 2022 – Afghanistan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Palestine and Singapore – while an increase in executions was also recorded for Iran (314 to 576), Saudi Arabia (65 to 196), and the US (11 to 18).

The recorded number of people executed for drug-related offences more than doubled and amounted to close to 40% of known executions.

Drug-related executions are in violation of international human rights law which states it should only be carried out for the “most serious crimes” – those which involve intentional killing.

These executions were recorded in China, Saudi Arabia (57), Iran (255) and Singapore (11), and amounted to 37% of the total recorded globally by the organisation.

Executions for drug-related offences were likely to have been carried out in Vietnam, yet these figures remain state secrets.

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– news@citizen.co.za