United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has raised concerns regarding an increase in executions and death sentences in Iran since March.
At least 56 people have been executed in Iran on national security-related charges since March 19. Of those, 27 were involved in cases linked to protests earlier this year.
Of those executed for national security charges since March 19, linked to earlier protests
Turk stated that capital punishment in Iran is being used to “instill fear among the population and suppress dissent.” He also noted that executions for drug-related offenses continue at an “alarming rate.”
Concerns over due process and fair trials
The High Commissioner raised concerns regarding persistent violations of due process and fair-trial guarantees in Iran. Reports indicate that some executions have taken place only weeks after arrest, and several were reportedly carried out in public.
Further reports suggest that confessions in Iran were allegedly obtained through torture and other forms of ill-treatment. In one instance, 12 defendants were reportedly sentenced to death following a single three-hour closed-door hearing.
