Iran executions condemned by more than 30 countries

More than 30 countries, including France, Britain and Canada, have condemned Iran's use of the death penalty, saying in an August 12 joint statement that executions of protesters are being used to silence dissent.

The countries, joined by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said they condemned Iran's ongoing executions of protesters and its use of capital punishment. The statement said the death penalty should not be used to intimidate communities or punish people exercising human rights, and called on Iran to end executions and release people it said were arbitrarily detained.

The French foreign ministry said additional governments had joined the declaration after an initial 26 countries and Kallas signed it, bringing the number of signatories to 32. Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Germany and other European countries were among those supporting the call.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the criticism in a post on X. He said countries such as France should stop lecturing others about human rights and international law, and accused them of hypocrisy over Gaza and aggression against Iran.

The statement follows warnings from the United Nations and rights groups about a rise in executions in recent months. Earlier in August, UN rights chief Volker Turk said Tehran was using the death penalty to "instil fear".

The UN says at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 people in cases linked to protests. Turk said more than 100 others were at risk of being put to death on similar charges. The UN and rights groups have warned of unfair trials and forced confessions.

A protest movement that began in late December over the high cost of living grew into widespread anti-government demonstrations. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths and blamed the violence on what they called terrorist acts orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Rights groups based abroad recorded a higher toll and said security forces fired on demonstrators.

Amnesty International said Iran put more than 2,150 people to death last year, making it the world's most prolific executioner after China.