UN rights chief alarmed by rise in Iran executions since March

Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, expressed alarm at the increase in executions in Iran since March. Türk stated that at least 56 people were executed on national security-related charges, with 27 related to the nationwide protests in January. Over 100 others face potential executions under similar charges, and drug-related executions continue at an alarming rate.

Iran is considered the world's second-most prolific executioner after China, having carried out a record 2,159 executions in the past year, including 45 suspected dissidents on national security-related charges. Türk warned that Iran might use executions more aggressively against opponents following the January protests and the US-Israeli war with Iran in February.

He called for the immediate halt of all executions and the abolition of the death penalty, emphasizing that such punishment has no place in today's world. Türk also criticized the lack of fair trials and due process guarantees, alleging confessions obtained under torture and other ill-treatment. Several executions were reportedly carried out in public, and some within weeks of arrest.

Twelve defendants were sentenced to death after a single three-hour closed-door hearing, with no individual responsibility clarified. Two men convicted of spying for Israel were executed last Monday. The recent executions include 19-year-old Arvin Kheirkhahan, convicted of enmity against God for his alleged role in January's unrest, and two others executed in public in Isfahan.

UN human rights experts noted that these 12 were sentenced in a single hearing, in a closed courtroom, without clarity of each defendant's individual responsibility, violating fair trial standards.