Deadliest year in a decade for executions worldwide; U.S. among top 5 countries
USA TodayMay 27
Report: Recorded Executions Reach Highest Number Since 2015
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The Facts
According to a report released by Amnesty International, global executions rose to their highest level since 2015 — with 1,153 people executed in 2023, a 30% increase from 2022.
The number "partially describes the true extent of states' resort to executions," as it doesn't include executions from countries such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam.
The Spin
Anti-Iran narrative
The rise in global executions lies mainly at the feet of Iran, which has created one of the world's deadliest regimes. Outside of China, where figures can't be officially ascertained, Iran is killing people at an excessive rate, and it's up to the rest of the world to hold the country accountable for its human rights abuses. The Islamic country continues to persecute political dissidents and execute people for drug charges. With 74% of the recorded executions, Iran is the gravest threat to progress.
Establishment-critical narrative
While countries like Iran and China lead the world in executions, it's also important to note the US continues to execute dozens of people annually. While most Western countries have abolished the death penalty, the US, fueled by a handful of states, continues to practice the backward form of punishment. It may not be executing people at the same rate as other countries, but its refusal to outlaw capital punishment prevents meaningful progress toward eliminating state executions in the West.
Narrative C
One could argue that in a perfect world, the death penalty would not exist. However, the world is far from perfect, and certain crimes are so heinous that they merit capital punishment. In the most extreme circumstances, such as mass murder and acts of terror, the death penalty can be appropriate in terms of delivering justice and deterring criminals. The death penalty should be reserved for extreme cases, but that doesn't mean it should be abolished altogether.