UN rights chief says Iran executed at least 56 people since March
UN Rights chief urges Tehran to halt all executions and move towards abolishing death penalty.
GENEVA: United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has expressed alarm over the rising number of executions in Iran since March 19, with at least 56 people sentenced to death for national security-related offenses, including 27 connected to protests that erupted at the beginning of the year. Turk stated that capital punishment is being employed to instill fear and suppress dissent among the populace.
He decried Iran's continued use of the death penalty to quell opposition during the recent unrest sparked by US-Israeli strikes on the country following February. Turk revealed that over 100 individuals are currently at risk of being executed under similar security charges, while executions for drug offenses persist at an "alarming rate."
He urged Iran to halt all executions, work towards abolishing the death penalty, and raised concerns about failures in ensuring fair trials and due process. Iran's official response to these allegations has yet to be provided. Iranian authorities have defended their judicial procedures and the use of capital punishment, citing its alignment with domestic laws and essentiality for public security.
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