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- The United Nations expressed deep concern over Iran’s use of capital punishment after at least 56 people were executed there in connection with national security since March, including dozens of people killed in connection with this year’s protests against the government. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for a moratorium on Iran’s death penalty and urged the country to abolish the practice. The UN human rights office reported that the number of death sentences in Iran surged to a peak in mid-March. At least 27 people executed in Iran were killed in connection with this year’s crackdown on the protests. Turk expressed concern that many of those sentenced to death in Iran faced vague charges, including restrictions on legal defense and violations of due process in connection with broadly defined national security offenses. He noted that international human rights standards require that the death penalty only be imposed after fair trials that respect the rights of the accused.
- The new data follow increased international criticism of Iran’s response to widespread unrest in the country and reports of the authorities’ crackdown on the protests. The UN rights office has accused Iran of using the death penalty as a tool of political repression and of targeting dissidents for weeks of unrest. At the same time, rights groups have raised concerns about the number of death sentences issued in connection with protests. Iran has denied charges of unfair trials, pointing out that those sentenced to death were guilty of serious crimes against national security and had been convicted in accordance with Iran’s laws. Türk called on Tehran to respect its international human rights obligations by ensuring that the rights of prisoners are respected and fair trial procedures are followed and by putting an end to the use of the death penalty as a response to political unrest. He also appealed to the international community to remain watchful in the face of growing concerns about the rights of protesters in Iran.
