In the 21st century, the death penalty Keep up. At least 1,518 people were executed worldwide in 2024, the worst figure since 2015, when it was reached at 1,634, according to the last report of Amnesty International.
The organization in defense of Human Rights warns that reality is much worse than the records reflect, since these do not include the Executions in countries that apply the death penalty extensively as China –Der in that area–, North Korea o Vietnam. In addition, it has not been able to confirm the executions carried out in conflict territories such as Syria o Palestine.
The Amnesty International report indicates that the vast majority of executions accounted for – a 91% of the total – are concentrated in Near Eastespecially in three countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia e Irak. The Ayatolás regime is responsible for at least 972 executions (64%), while the Wahabist absolutist is 345 and the Iraqi Republic of 63. After China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the fifth country in which more people were executed in 2024 was Yemen.
The organization denounces that more than 40% of last year’s executions occurred “illegally” for crimes related to druga level of punishment that goes against what is established by international law – reserved for cases such as Homicides– And that, in addition, “disproportionately affects people in unfavorable contexts” and “have no demonstrated effect on traffic reduction,” he says Agnès CallamardGeneral Secretary of Amnesty International.
Increasingly in fewer countries
However, the report also gives reasons for certain optimism. And, although the executions go more, the number of countries that opt for this “abominable crime” as a method of representation It is getting smaller, making them an “isolated minority.” “In 2024, only 15 countries carried out executions, the lowest registered figure for the second consecutive year, a fact that indicates a tendency to abandon this cruel, inhuman and degrading penalty,” says the French jurist.
Currently, a total of 113 countries have abolished the death penalty and another 145 have eliminated her from her legislation. Last December, without going any further, more than two thirds of the countries that form the UN supported the establishment of a moratorium on the Capital penalty. However, there are still military regimes such as those of Congo Democratic Republic o Burkina Faso They already plan to restore the death penalty, even against common crimes.
