Iran Kicks Off 2015 Executions at Record-Setting Pace

The Islamic Republic of Iran has executed approximately sixty-four of its own citizens in the first few weeks of January, according to recent reports by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and Iran Focus.

At its current pace, Iran will put around 1000 people to death, which would shatter last year’s record under “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani, which saw 721 Iranians reportedly executed by their own government.

The Iranian regime started 2015 off with a bang, executing a reported fifteen individuals, including four women. In an officially recognized execution on January 17th, the Fars Province Justice released a picture showing two men hanging from a noose.

On Christmas Day, 2014, the Iranian government hanged at least nine prisoners, according to multiple reports.

Many “offenders” are declared Moharebeh (waging war against God), but the majority of those who are executed are convicted on simple drug charges. Other crimes, such as being a homosexual or blasphemy against Islam’s Muhammad, are also punishable by death. Gay activists estimate that some 4,000 alleged gays have been executed by Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Most victims of capital punishment are executed via hanging. When public executions are conducted, the victim is usually hung in the air off of a crane.

While killing its own citizens at a record pace, the Islamic Republic of Iran has also continued to rapidly develop its nuclear weapons program. Several weeks ago, President Hassan Rouhani proudly announced that Iran had broken ground on two new power plants. The same day, news broke that Tehran was actively involved in helping Syria’s Assad regime build a nuclear plant of its own.

Additionally, last week, Israel’s Channel 2 news captured a satellite image of an 89-foot-long ballistic missile near Tehran which may have the capability to hit the United States.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to grossly violate its interim nuclear deal which it had agreed to with the P5+1 Nations.