Iran executed almost 600 people last year in an attempt to spread fear, rights groups said on Thursday after months of anti-regime protests.
Tehran executed at least 582 people last year — the highest number since 2015, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty.
In 2021, Iran was second to China for the most number of executions.
It has executed several prominent figures in recent years, including top athletes, journalist Ruhollah Zam and former deputy defence minister Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national.
The surge came as Iran was rocked by nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody, sparking public fury against Tehran and its hardline rule.
More than 500 people were killed in the ensuing crackdown by security forces.
It regularly executes people convicted of drug-related charges and moharebeh, or “enmity against God”, and often executes juvenile offenders.
Relatives say loved ones are often moved to solitary confinement without notifying the family of their imminent execution and that the authorities bury prisoners without family members being present.
Tehran has sentenced at least a dozen people to death this year, according to Amnesty International, which warned of a “chilling execution spree” last month.
Authorities use the death penalty to repress ethnic minorities, the rights group said, executing at least one Arab, 14 Kurds and 13 Balochis after “grossly unfair trials”.
At least 94 people were killed in January and February this year, according to findings from Amnesty and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre.
“It is harrowing that executions routinely occur amid the systematic use of torture-tainted ‘confessions’ to convict defendants,” said Amnesty's Diana Eltahawy.
Pope Francis has spoken out against the executions.
“The death penalty cannot be employed for a purported state justice, since it does not constitute a deterrent nor render justice to victims, but only fuels the thirst for vengeance,” he said in January.
Two women are among the 151 executed so far this year, according to Iran Human Rights.
Four people have been executed over the recent protests, described by the UN as “state-sanctioned killing”.
Mohsen Shekari, 23, was the first to be executed in December, a week after four people were put to death for allegedly co-operating with Israeli intelligence.
Dozens of others are on death row for joining the demonstrations, which Tehran has blamed on foreign powers, particularly the US and Israel.
All were found guilty of moharebeh after speedy trials — in some cases those accused were given only 15 minutes to defend themselves.
Western powers issued new sanctions over the executions, targeting members of Iran's judiciary and senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials.
Authorities said the men had killed members of the security forces, but rights groups and activists denounced the trials as “sham hearings” with little evidence.
The family of Jamshid Sharmahd, a US resident on death row in Iran, told The National that US President Joe Biden has failed him.
Mr Sharmahd, an outspoken critic of the regime, was abducted in 2020 and taken to Iran, where authorities accused him of involvement in a 2008 mosque bombing.
He denies the charges.
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
