This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A number of lawmakers in the United Kingdom have launched a campaign to destroy the centuries-old tradition of opening sessions of Parliament with a Christian prayer.

That practice reportedly dates to 1558, but the Christian Institute reports "modernisers" in the body are insisting on being appeased with the change.

And a veteran of the body has warned against the move.

"Sir John Hayes said it was important to begin each sitting of the House of Commons with prayer to afford MPs time for quiet reflection, and in recognition of the UK's Christian heritage," the report said.

"Whether you believe in the divine or not, it's important to recognize our country is rooted in the Christian traditions. Prayers are a reminder of that," he said.

New members, he charged, "either because of ignorance or hostility, don't understand the point about the need for a period of contemplative time or the Christian tradition on which our country's system of ethics and laws are founded."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A conglomerate of anti-Israel, pro-terrorist protestors, and others, including a "radical imam," are planning to attend Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 – which prompts the question, will their presence be peaceful or not?

"Security will be at the maximum height for the Inauguration," Ryan Mauro, a national security analyst at the Capital Research Center, assured WorldNetDaily. And because the event will be "a hardened target, it will be difficult for these extremists to actually disrupt it." However, he added, fighting with law enforcement and damaging property in the vicinity of their protests is "very likely to happen."

Mauro is especially perplexed that a "radical imam" is scheduled to speak at the inauguration. "Husham Al-Husainy is a known supporter of Hezbollah, one that has refused to call them terrorists. So you have essentially an Iranian regime operative in the vicinity of Donald Trump on Inauguration Day at the very same time that the Iranian regime is trying to murder Trump." Interestingly, nine surface-to-air missiles have also reportedly entered the country, but which remain unaccounted for, to date.

Regarding Al-Husainy being scheduled to deliver a benediction at Trump's inauguration, Mauro comments: "If that sort of mind-blowing screw-up just happened, how confident can we be about any security measures anywhere? If we can't even stop a pro-terrorist extremist who is loyal to those trying to assassinate Trump from being 'chosen' to be near Trump, then it's safe to assume that suspensions of basic common sense are happening."

What's more, in addition to the controversial imam, Mauro also revealed, "there are overlapping coalitions of pro-terrorism groups planning to descend on Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day."

As Donald Trump takes the country by the helm for a second term of office on Jan. 20, Mauro said, "The coalition and their respective groups will be there to protest, which could spark something larger than a simple demonstration."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot is raining fire on plans announced by one of his state's public universities to offer applications for a fully racist conference that bans participation by whites and Asians.

Abbott's response to a question about whether that was allowed? "Hell, no."

It got started with Christopher F. Rufo's reporting on the Chicago-located conference that was being promoted by Texas A&M. He confirmed that TAMU "is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law," with its sponsorship of "a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending."

Kurt Schlichter of Townhall confronted the governor, with, "Hey #GregAbbot_TX, … is my newly adopted state gonna put up with this crap? Because I came from California, and it leads to thousands of houses getting burned down."

Abbott's response was only minutes in coming:

"Hell, no. It's against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone," he said.

A commentary at Twitchy documented, however, that the story isn't over.

"The corrupt, poisonous ideology of 'wokeness' is dying before our eyes and it is a beautiful thing to see. Conservatives and sane people have not won yet, make no mistake there, but DEI is dying on the vine, slowly but surely."

It reported not only are many companies "ditching" DEI, there's a move in Washington to ban the leftist ideology and its practices across federal government.

Some states are ahead, and "have already banned the discriminatory practices."

In Texas, "Abbott rained FIRE down on A&M and stated in no uncertain terms that they could not and WILL NOT get away with this," it said. "Because A&M is a public university, Abbott has the power and leverage to back his threat up," Twitchy said.

It added," More important than even the political win, however, is the win all students will get when they are no longer denied academic opportunities because of the color of their skin or how they 'identify.' It is a win for merit and a win for truth."

The episode wasn't quite finished with the governor's intervention.

State Rep. Brian Harrison joined with some advice: "Thank you, Governor. The leadership of @tamu needs to be replaced immediately regardless.

"In addition to using taxpayer money to promote unconstitutional DEI, they're promoting liberal indoctrination, transgenderism, and confirmed to me they plan to keep all LGBTQ courses."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A federal judge has approved the release of part of Jack Smith's "political hit job" on President-elect Donald Trump, but has restricted access, including congressional access, to a second chapter.

What is being released is prosecutor Jack Smith's opinions in which he claims that Trump tried to interfere in the 2020 presidential election through the events of Jan. 6, 2021, even though Trump had called for his supporters to protest peacefully before a few hundred rioted and trespassed and caused vandalism.

Evidence later confirmed that then-Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted her party was largely at fault for not having enough troops on hand to quell any disturbances, a solution that Trump has suggested, but was rejected.

"The report is nothing less than another attempted political hit job whose sole purpose is to disrupt the presidential transition and undermine President Trump's exercise of executive power," the incoming president's lawyers had described.

"The Final Report goes into more detail about the alleged crimes President Trump and others supposedly committed and involves evidence that was never released to the public–indeed, evidence that could not be released, such as those involving official acts," they wrote.

Fox News reported the information from Smith, who earlier was ruled by a federal court to have been appointed to the "special counsel" post improperly, was approved for release by Judge Aileen Cannon.

Her order allows the eventual release of one volume of Smith's opinions about Trump. It prevents the release, even to Congress, of another volume concerning Smith's claims about government documents.

Both cases against Trump now are dead, anyway, as Smith dropped them when Trump was re-elected to the White House, and Smith now has quit his federally paid job.

Cannon had temporarily blocked release of Smith's work last week.

At issue were requests from two of Trump's co-defendants in the documents case  who said release of the details would harm their still-pending cases.

The report explained, "It is customary for special counsels to release a final report, detailing the findings of their investigation and explaining any prosecution or declination decisions they reached. In Smith's case, the prosecution decision is immaterial, given Trump's status as president-elect and long-standing Justice Department policy against bringing criminal charges against a sitting president."

Cannon, in her order, did warn the DOJ that its representatives to her must be accurate.

According to the Gateway Pundit, Merrick Garland, Joe Biden's attorney general, fought with court submissions all weekend to have the claims from Smith released so they can be publicized.

The report said, "The Justice Department over the weekend said the January 6 volume of Jack Smith's report does NOT include information about the classified documents case. However, this is not true. In a motion filed over the weekend, the Justice Department admitted the January 6 volume of the report (DC case with Judge Chutkan) references the classified documents case (Florida case with Judge Cannon)."

Analysts have explained that Smith's claims now being publicized may not have been anything that could have been brought to court. Further, the release in this way deprives Trump of a formal response procedure that he would have had if they had been presented in a judicial setting.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

PALM BEACH, Florida – What did two American presidents – Donald Trump and Barack Obama – say to each other at Thursday's funeral for Jimmy Carter, another commander in chief?

While the official discussion remains a mystery, Trump on Sunday shared a hilarious dubbed version of the pair's talk on Truth Social.

"Well, Mr. President," Obama says at the outset of the spoof.

"For a second time," Trump replies. "Barack, very nice to see you."

"Congratulations," Obama responds. "So how you doing?"

Trump: "A lot better now."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Whether a school board member is allowed to quote from the Bible, in public, for encouragement is on the court docket in Arizona.

Officials with First Liberty Institute and the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have filed a brief encouraging the federal court there to affirm the right of Heather Rooks, the president of the Peoria Unif9ied School District Board, to recite from Scripture during meetings.

"Citing a quotation from any text, be it sacred or secular, for the purpose of encouragement or inspiration is completely protected under the Free Speech Clause of the U.S. Constitution," explained First Liberty Institute lawyer Erin Smith. "That conclusion is compelled by Supreme Court precedent and confirmed by history and tradition."

Matt Scorcio, of the Gibson law firm, said, "Our Nation's public officials have quoted scripture in performing their duties from the Founding through today. Heather Rooks' practice of opening her Board comments time with a brief quotation of scripture fits comfortably within that tradition, so it can't as a matter of law give rise to an Establishment Clause violation."

Rooks began her time with the board in January 2023, and she recently was elected president.

"During each Peoria School Board meeting, the agenda includes a brief 'Board comments' period where individual board members may offer remarks of their own choosing. Since the beginning of her public service on the board, Ms. Rooks opened her comments by quoting a short scripture from the Bible," the legal team said.

But various "anti-religious organizations" wrote to the board, demanding a complete censorship of her comments.

The previous board chief told her to stop using scripture, and a motion now filed with the court argues, "Far from being compelled by the Establishment Clause, the District's actions in this case violate Rooks' own rights of religious freedom and speech under state and federal law. As the Supreme Court put it recently in the landmark case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, a 'government entity's concerns about phantom constitutional violations' never 'justify actual violations of an individual's First Amendment rights.' The Court should grant summary judgment to Rooks, award her nominal damages, and grant her declaratory relief."

The Daily Caller News Foundation reported when the dispute arose that Rooks went to court after being ordered to censor her Bible references.

It was Lisa Anne Smith, the board's lawyer, who dictated that members were not allowed to "pray or recite scripture during board meetings."

The legal action complained," The District's official policy and actions—which purport to ensure Rooks does 'not read scripture' or 'offer bible verses'—regulate her speech based on its content, message, and viewpoint. The District's policies and actions therefore chill her ability to freely speak, in violation of the First Amendment."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – Israel/MidEast Briefs

Sen. Cruz: 'I believe hostages will come home before President Trump takes office

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Fla., said during an interview this week there was a serious chance the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist organization will release the remaining Israeli and American hostages it has been holding before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the Daily Wire reported.

Cruz made the remarks during a Tuesday night interview with Sean Hannity after Trump warned there would be hell to pay if the hostages were not released before he is sworn in.

The Texas senator, who just won his third term in the U.S. Senate in November, said Trump would immediately get the situation on the border under control, unleash American energy production, lower inflation, and strike fear in the hearts of America's enemies.

"And I'm going to make a prediction," Cruz said. "I think there is a very real possibility that we will see the hostages in Gaza released on or before Jan. 20th."

Iran's top general in Syria admits fall of Assad was a fatal blow, blames Russia

The Supreme Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria admitted defeat this week in an extraordinary speech that was leaked to media, according to the Jewish Press.

The revelation last week by senior Iranian General Behrouz Esbati in a closed-door address at the Vali El-Eliaser Mosque in Tehran and originally published in the New York Times, has ignited a firestorm in Tehran.

Asbati left Syria on the last military plane to Tehran the night before the fall of the Assad regime.

"We were defeated, we were defeated badly; we suffered a fatal blow, and it is very difficult," said the former commander of Iran's Syrian operations, in reference to the fall of the Assad regime in Damascus.

The general said that former President Bashar al-Assad had rejected multiple military plans to use Iranian resources in Syria to attack Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion and massacre.

Esbati also had harsh criticism of Russia, an Assad ally and Iranian partner, saying "the Russians turned off their radar and detection systems," allowing Israel to attack Iranian military targets in Syria.

Will Netanyahu be arrested if he participates in 80th anniversary commemoration of Auschwitz liberation in Poland?

Polish President Andrzej Duda has requested special protection for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation without risk of arrest, according to Israel Hayom. The request comes amid international legal challenges facing the Israeli leader and a threat from Poland's liberal prime minister Donald Tusk to fulfill the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant.

Duda wrote to Tusk on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to ensure Netanyahu's presence would remain "unhindered" during his time in Poland, citing the "absolutely exceptional circumstances" of the commemoration.

The commemoration of the Nazi death camp's liberation is set for Jan. 27. When asked about Netanyahu's attendance plans, his spokesperson said no invitation had been received yet.

Duda's request potentially creates a diplomatic challenge for the Polish government. Poland's status as an ICC treaty signatory requires it to comply with the court's decisions regarding accountability for mass atrocity crimes.

Five years on, still no justice for families of victims of downed Ukrainian Airlines planes over Iran

Families of those killed in the downing of Flight PS752 gathered at the crash site in Shahedshahr, Tehran Province, on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy under the slogan "Never Forget, Never Forgive."

The Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down by missiles from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on January 8, 2020, shortly after takeoff, killing all 176 people onboard, including the crew, reported Iran International.

For three days after the incident, authorities concealed the fact that the plane had been shot down, repeatedly claiming the crash was an accident.

Masoud Ebrahim, whose daughter Niloufar was one of the victims, began his speech with the phrase "Woman, Life, Freedom" and honored "all those who have lost their lives and suffered oppression over the past 46 years."

He said, "We didn't know that everyone in [Khamenei's] circle had gathered to decide to down the plane."

Fifty-five Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents were among the 176 people killed on the plane.

Biden administration redirects $100 million in U.S. military aid from Israel, Egypt to Lebanon

In the final days of U.S. President Joe Biden's time in office, his administration has redirected more than $100 million in military aid from Israel and Egypt to Lebanon, citing a need to strengthen a ceasefire agreement to halt fighting between the Jewish state and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, according to the Algemeiner.

The U.S. State Department issued two separate notices to Congress dated Jan. 3, announcing it would shift $95 million in military aid intended for Egypt and $7.5 million intended for Israel toward the Lebanese military and its government, the Associated Press reported.

The move came after some lawmakers in Congress expressed concerns about Egypt's human rights record, particularly the arrests of thousands of political prisoners.

IDF fatalities in Gaza fighting climbs above 400 as 3 more soldiers killed

Three IDF infantry soldiers were killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, with three others seriously wounded as Israel's battle to dismantle Hamas' infrastructure continues to be fought at heavy cost. The three fatalities pushed Israel's losses in the 15-month ground war to 401.

The three slain troops were named as Staff Sgt. Matityahu Ya'akov Perel, 22, from Beit El, Staff Sgt. Kanaoo Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh, and Staff Sgt. Nevo Fisher, 20, from Bruchin.

They all served with the 401st Armored Brigade's 46th Battalion, the Times of Israel reported.

According to an initial IDF probe, the troops were hit by a large explosive device that was detonated against a tank during operations in Beit Hanoun.

The incident came after three other troops were killed and several more wounded in separate incidents the previous two days.

Israel mulls international conference on dividing Syria into provinces

Discussions within Israel are intensifying regarding developments on the northern front. Two days ago, Defense Minister Israel Katz chaired a small ministerial meeting preceding an upcoming discussion by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which focused on Turkish involvement in Syria, according to information obtained by Israel Hayom.

The cabinet deliberations covered evolving situations in Syria, particularly addressing concerns regarding de facto leader, the jihadi-linked revolutionary Abu Mohammad al-Julani, and the safety of Druze and Kurdish minority populations in the region In an effort to enhance regional stability, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen proposed convening an international conference focused on Syria.

IDF recovers remains of Bedouin abducted into Gaza and murdered

The Israel Defense Forces recovered the corpse of Israeli hostage Youssef Ziyadne from an underground tunnel in the southern Gazan city of Rafah and have returned the remains to Israel, the military said Wednesday.

Ziyadne, a 53-year-old father of 19, was killed after Hamas terrorists abducted him and three of his children on Oct. 7, 2023, reported the Jewish News Syndicate. The IDF previously said it located findings related to Ziyadne's son, Hamza, which raise "serious concerns for his life."

Two of Ziyadne's other children, Bilal and Aisha, were released on Nov. 30, 2023, after spending more than 50 days in Hamas captivity.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "deep sorrow" at the news, adding, "We will continue to make every effort to bring all of our hostages home – both the living and the dead."

Israeli culture minister urges FIFA to expel senior Palestinian official for incitement of terrorism

Israel's Culture Minister Miki Zohar has called on the world body governing soccer – FIFA – to remove the president of the Palestine Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, from his post for "inciting, justifying, and supporting violence against Israel," reported the Algemeiner.

Zohar wrote in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Rajoub's alleged incitement to violence is a "blatant infringement of the core values that international sports aim to promote — values of peace, unity, and mutual respect." He urged Infantino and the FIFA Executive Committee to act swiftly and expel Rajoub from his senior position.

"There is no place for individuals who incite or support terrorism and violence within sports institutions," he added. "His continued membership in senior roles within the sports world undermines public trust and sends a dangerous message — that the platform of sports can be exploited for political agendas and the promotion of hatred and violence … It is our collective responsibility to ensure that sports remain a unifying force that brings people together, rather than a stage for incitement and terror. I trust in your leadership and in FIFA's commitment to upholding the integrity of international sports, and I am confident that you will act to safeguard its moral future."

Amnesty International suspends Israel chapter over 'racism' allegations, rejection of 'genocide' lie

Amnesty International has suspended its Israeli chapter for two years, citing allegations of discrimination against Palestinians and discrepancies between its internal reports and the organization's global line, which accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, reported Ynet.

Note that like all good authoritarians, the parent organization does not provide the Israeli chapter with any benefit of the doubt, or the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. No, it is enough for mere allegations to be deemed worthy of immediate suspension.

Amnesty Israel rejected claims of discrimination against Palestinian employees. While agreeing with the global organization's conclusions on violations of international law, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing by Israel, Amnesty Israel contested the genocide allegation, arguing that there's insufficient evidence to support the claim.

The Israeli chapter also expressed dissatisfaction with the global organization's disregard for Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 massacre, further straining relations.

The New York Post addressed the controversy in an editorial published Tuesday, quoting opinion columnist Seth Mandel, who said the "supposed 'human rights' organization' now operates on authoritarian principles."

Islamic group seeking to destroy Israel, create caliphate to hold Canada conference

A group seeking to destroy the state of Israel and replace southern European, Middle Eastern, and African countries with an Islamic caliphate is set to hold a conference in Canada next Saturday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Hizb ut-Tahrir will be holding its annual Khilafah event in Hamilton, Ontario, according to Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, who had objected to the group holding the event in her city.

After the Islamic group – which has been banned in many countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany – indicated in advertisements that it was moving its Jan. 18 event to Hamilton, Parrish said on X/Twitter that she was "pleased that the peaceful and respectful residents of Mississauga will not have to endure the fall out" of the "extremists" conference.

U.K. Labor MPs reject Tory calls for public inquiry over Muslim rape gangs

Britain's ruling Labor Party – under the leadership of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – voted down on Wednesday a proposed public inquiry into the largely Muslim rape gangs, which Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tabled as an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill earlier this week.

The bill was rejected in the Commons by 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253, according to GB News.

The move was branded as an "act of cowardice" by Conservatives following the vote.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "It is disgusting that Keir Starmer has used his supermajority in Parliament to block a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal."

Iran to relocate its capital from Tehran to southern coastal city Makran

Iran will relocate its capital to the southern coastal region of Makran, a government spokeswoman said on Tuesday, in an ambitious plan aimed at bypassing Tehran's enduring overpopulation, power shortages and water scarcity.

While officials emphasize the strategic and economic advantages of the shift, critics have voiced concerns over likely enormous financial and logistical demands, Iran International reported.

"The new capital will definitely be in the south, in the Makran region, and this matter is currently being worked on," government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday.

She highlighted Tehran's growing ecological pressures, including water scarcity and announced the formation of two councils to examine the feasibility of the move and develop a sea-based economy in the Makran region.

"We are seeking assistance from academics, elites and experts, including engineers, sociologists and economists," she added, while stressing that the issue remains in the exploratory phase and is not urgent.

Majority of Israelis now oppose creation of Palestinian state

For the first time in nearly 18 years, a majority of Israeli Jews now oppose the establishment of any Palestinian state, according to an opinion poll published earlier this week.

Of the 804 Jews polled in the "Swords of Iron Survey Results—December 2024" survey by Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), 64% opposed the creation of a Palestinian state "under any condition," compared to 23% who said they supported it "under certain conditions." The remaining 13% said they didn't know. Among the 205 Arabs polled, the distribution was 59%, 12% and 29% respectively, reported the Jewish News Syndicate.

Within the total sample of 1,009 Jewish and Arab respondents, 52% opposed the creation of any Palestinian state compared to 30% who supported it.

In the years 2006-2019, support among Jews for a Palestinian state under certain conditions fell from 71% to 55%, according to an INSS overview from 2020. In 2022 support among Jews was 50% and support in the overall population was 52%.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

As flames continue to ravage Southern California on Wednesday, Hollywood star James Woods, a resident of the scorched region, is documenting the apocalyptic devastation and blasting "liberal idiots" including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their incompetence and woke policies.

"To all the wonderful people who've reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully," Woods, whose home is in Pacific Palisades, posted on X. "I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Joe Biden moved on Monday to take "revenge" on the American population, impacting the economy, national security and energy with an abrupt ban on offshore drilling.

"This is a disgraceful decision designed to exact political revenge on the American people who gave President Trump a mandate to increase drilling and lower gas prices," explained Karoline Leavitt, the incoming White House press secretary.

In fact, during Biden's tenure in the White House, his extremist climate change ideology has included repeated attacks on significant sources of energy for America, and he pushed prices for home utilities higher, and triggered a price explosion for gasoline for vehicles into the range of $6 and $7 a gallon at some points.

RedState reported Biden cited the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to impose bans on drilling along both East and West coasts of the nation, the eastern Gulf of Mexica and parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea.

Biden claimed the drilling was "not worth the risks."

Again relying on his belief in a "climate crisis," he said since that "continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren."

His often-cited global warming beliefs insist that America stop using fossil fuels, despite the fact any changes, even dramatic alterations, in America's use of those fuels will have little impact on worldwide conditions.

Leavitt further predicted Biden's actions will mean little.

"Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill," she said.

Trump, who made America energy independent during his first term, has promised that during his second term he is making energy independence again a cornerstone of his agenda.

"As president, I will set a national goal of ensuring that America has the No. 1 lowest cost of energy of any industrial country anywhere on Earth," he explained in a video. "We will not only match China, we will be cheaper than China by a lot. And more energy will mean lower inflation that will mean more jobs."

He blasted Biden's "anti-American electricity regulations" and said the U.S. must keep pace with the world economy, which depends on fossil fuels for more than 80% of its energy.

Leavitt said Trump is expected to issue executive orders as soon as he takes office on the topic.

"He will use the power of his pen to deliver on many of the promises he made to the American people on the campaign trail to secure our southern border, to fast-track permits for fracking, for drilling, and to also take executive action to stop some of the transgender insanity that we have seen take over this country," she said.

The report said, "A recent survey by CNBC shows a majority of the American people are 'comfortable and prepared to support' Trump's agenda, including those who back drilling for more oil on federal lands and cutting taxes and regulations for business."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

According to the Iranian opposition group the National Council of Resistance of Iran, or NCRI, the number of recorded executions in 2024 has reached 1,000 prisoners, including 34 women and 7 minors. While this figure is unprecedented in the past 30 years, the actual number is likely much higher due to secret executions.

Executions in Iran during 2024 increased by 16% compared to the 864 executions recorded in 2023. According to Amnesty International, 74% of all recorded executions worldwide in 2023 took place in Iran.

Execution as a tool of official repression

Twenty-five percent of the executions were carried out in the third quarter.

However, in the fourth quarter, amidst the regime's crushing failures in the region and the emergence of severe economic and social crises, the pace of executions accelerated to unprecedented levels. Nearly 47% of the prisoners executed in 2024 were hanged during this period.

Commenting on this, Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian opposition and president-elect of the NCRI, called for all negotiations and deals with the regime to be conditioned on halting executions and torture. She stated: "The wave of barbaric executions in 2024, particularly in the past autumn, is (the regime's supreme leader Ali) Khamenei's desperate attempt to prevent the uprisings of an angry population that will settle for nothing less than the complete overthrow of this regime."

695 executions under Pezeshkian's presidency

Some 695 executions, almost 70% of the annual total, have taken place since July 30, when Massoud Pezeshkian assumed the presidency.

Increase in executions of women

Among those executed, 34 were women, and seven were minors who had been convicted of crimes allegedly committed before the age of 18. The average age of the 491 identified victims was 36 years.

Among the executed were 119 Baluch prisoners, members of an impoverished and oppressed ethnic minority. This group was disproportionately targeted compared to the population of other provinces and regions in the country.

Additionally, four public executions were carried out in especially brutal ways to instill fear within the society.

The pretext of drug-related crimes

More than half of the victims (502 prisoners) were executed on drug-related charges. However, following the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, it was revealed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, controlled massive drug-trafficking networks in Syria generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue across the region and the world. Only a fraction of these activities has been exposed.

Amputations and social injustice

Another shocking act of cruelty consists of chopping off fingers of thieves. Fingers of two brothers imprisoned in Oroumieh and those of two other prisoners in Qom were thus amputated. Meanwhile, billion-dollar embezzlements by regime leaders and their affiliated networks have become routine, with no arrests or punishments for those responsible.

The only so-called "progress" in human rights reported in the past year was the judiciary's announcement, according to the official website "Asr-e Iran," that anesthesia is now permitted before amputating the limbs of convicted thieves.

Tuesday's campaign: No to the death penalty

For 49 weeks, a campaign titled "No to the Death Penalty" has been held every Tuesday – the day when most executions take place.

This campaign has garnered significant support among detainees: Prisoners from 28 prisons are participating by going on hunger strikes.

Internationally, more than 250 British parliamentarians from both houses of Parliament, representing all major political parties, have expressed their support for the campaign. They have strongly condemned the unprecedented rise in executions in Iran and called for their immediate cessation.

Utmost barbarity: Stoning to death

In its latest statement, the "No to the Death Penalty" movement denounced another atrocity: Several female prisoners in Qarchak Prison were sentenced to stoning to death on charges of extramarital relationships. Even in the best-case scenario, these sentences might be commuted to execution by hanging.

The statement concluded: "We firmly believe that silence in the face of such atrocities amounts to complicity. It is essential to stand against such barbarism and brutality."

The year 2024 marked a grim turning point in the Iranian regime's repression. Far from being a measure of justice, executions are being weaponized as a political tool to sustain a regime in existential crisis. In this context, the courage of Iranian prisoners, activists and the global movement for the abolition of the death penalty serves as a powerful reminder: The fight for human rights and justice cannot be silenced.