Iran issues first death penalty over recent protests

Iran on Sunday issued its first known death sentence over the recent protests there. It's the latest escalation in the government crackdown after more than two months of anti- regime demonstrations. Politicians and activists from around the world are getting together today in Berlin for the World Congress against the death penalty.

According to Amnesty International, more than two thirds of countries in the world have abolished the death penalty - in law or at least in practice. That means they haven't executed anyone for at least ten years.

But 55 countries do still use the death penalty. Often, these are countries considered to have flawed or unfair justice systems.

China is estimated to be the world's leading executioner. After that, the most known executions in 2021 took place in Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria – in that order.

Globally, Amnesty found at least 579 people were put to death by governments last year - not including the estimated thousands executed in China, from where there's a lack of official data.