Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, human rights groups report
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 individuals in 2025, according to a joint annual report by Norway-based Iran Human Rights IHR and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty ECPM. This figure represents a 68 percent increase from the 975 executions in 2024 and includes 48 women. The report states that this is the highest number of executions since IHR began tracking in 2008 and the most reported since 1989. The NGOs urged Western nations to prioritize the abolition of capital punishment in any negotiations with Tehran, especially following the recent conflict. Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, executive director of ECPM, emphasized that the death penalty should be central to any deals. IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam expressed concern that the rights of the Iranian people were not mentioned in recent US-Iran talks. The report also warned that hundreds of detained protesters from January 2026 demonstrations remain at risk of death sentences. During the recent conflict, Iran executed seven people linked to the January protests, six men for membership in the People鈥檚 Mujahedin of Iran MEK, and one Iranian-Swedish citizen accused of spying for Israel. At least 26 other individuals arrested during the January protests have been sentenced to death, with several hundred more facing charges that could lead to execution. Of the 48 women executed in 2025, 21 were for murdering their husbands or fianc茅s. Public hangings more than tripled to 11 in 2025, and almost half of those
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Must ReadThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA of Nigeria and its Egyptian counterpart are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding MoU to enhance cooperation in fighting substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. This agreement aims to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint operations, and training between the two nations. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa retd., announced this during a visit from the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, at the agency's headquarters in Abuja. Marwa emphasized the global nature of the drug problem and the need for international collaboration, citing existing partnerships with various international law enforcement agencies. He noted that drug cartels are seeking alternative routes in Africa due to pressure elsewhere and highlighted NDLEA's success in dismantling drug manufacturing operations, including methamphetamine labs run by Mexican cartels in Nigeria. Ambassador Fouad underscored the importance of stronger bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Nigeria, as prominent African countries, to address narcotics trafficking from a continental perspective. The proposed MoU is expected to bolster intelligence gathering, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement actions to curb the illicit drug trade across Africa.
A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
The Nigerian Federal Government is prepared to collaborate with investors to address the nation's housing deficit, offering land nationwide for mass housing projects. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Darma, during a meeting with a Chinese delegation. The delegation, led by Chief Engineer Lewis Chima, proposed a partnership to deliver large-scale affordable housing. Darma noted that this proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes affordable housing through public-private partnerships. The minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to facilitating access to land and providing institutional support for successful project implementation. Chima stated that the company was drawn to Nigeria due to its significant housing demand and economic potential, aiming to complement the Renewed Hope Housing Programme by providing affordable, durable, and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the country鈥檚 six geopolitical zones. The company plans to use advanced prefabricated construction technology under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing model to deliver 10,000 housing units within 30 months, reducing costs and improving quality. Darma has directed a committee to review the proposal. Nigeria faces an estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units, which the Renewed Hope Housing Programme aims to tackle through various initiatives, including Renewed Hope Cities, Estate