A new study says capital punishment is on the rise across the globe. Audrey Gaughran of Amnesty International blamed Iran and Iraq for an increase of over 100 executions over the previous year.

Audrey Gaughran: “Almost a hundred more people were put to death in 2013 compared to 2012. The countries responsible for that sharp spike are largely Iran and Iraq. Four countries also resumed executions during 2013, which was quite troubling. But that said, the overall picture, the long-term picture, in terms of abolition of the death penalty is positive, and if we look back over 10, 20 years, we see a steady decline in the use of the death penalty.”

The United States was fifth on the list of executing countries, with 39 killings in 2013.