Iranian authorities executed two men in public on Monday, September 29, for the killing of a police officer during an armed robbery in central Iran.

“The death sentence of the two armed robbers was carried out this morning in the city of Khomein” in the central province of Markazi, the judicial website Mizan Online reported, citing the local prosecutor.

Iran, which carries out death sentences by hanging, rarely carries out public executions.

The two convicts shot dead a police officer nearly four years ago while trying to flee after clashing with police authorities, Mizan reported.

Iran has the highest number of executions annually after China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

The number of executions was 2023 is the highest on record since 2015, up 48 percent from 2022 and up 172 percent from 2021, Amnesty said.

According to Human Rights Watch, Iran executed at least 87 people last month, including 29 in one day.

The Islamic Republic uses the death penalty for major crimes such as murder and drug trafficking, as well as for rape and sexual assault cases.