In a chilling display of justice, the Iranian judiciary has announced the execution of five men who were convicted of kidnapping and raping a woman in the city of Marand. The men were arrested just four days after committing their heinous crime in East Azerbaijan province.

This is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of sexual assault cases in Iran, as last month three men were executed for similar crimes in the southern province of Hormozgan. The execution of these rapists comes as no surprise, as Iran has a shocking record when it comes to capital punishment. According to human rights group Amnesty International, Iran executes more people than any other country except China.

In fact, last year alone, they hanged at least 582 people, the highest number since 2015. The number of executions for all crimes has significantly increased, with at least 282 people executed so far in 2023, nearly double the number at the beginning of last year.

Executions in Iran are not limited to rape cases; drug-related charges and moharebeh (enmity against God) are also commonly used as grounds for the death penalty. These vague charges have been employed to silence anti-regime protesters and dissenters. Iran's judiciary is known for its speedy and secretive trials, where due process is often disregarded.

In one case, a protester was given a mere 15 minutes to defend himself before being sentenced to death. Alarmingly, members of minority groups, such as the Baloch, make up a significant portion of those executed, and juvenile offenders are not spared either.

The surge in executions in Iran has raised concerns among human rights organizations, with the Norway-based Iran Human Rights reporting at least 353 executions in the first half of this year alone. The Center for Human Rights in Iran has highlighted an increase in politically motivated executions, signaling a harsh crackdown on dissent and perceived critics of the regime.

These executions serve as a grim reminder of the challenges that remain in Iran when it comes to protecting human rights. The international community must continue to condemn these violations and exert pressure on Iranian authorities to put an end to this cycle of violence and injustice.