Human Rights, Justice & Society
Iran targeting minorities with executions, UN experts say
Independent UN rights experts urged Iran on Thursday to end what they described as escalating arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and arbitrary executions of ethnic minorities, saying Kurdish and Baluch communities were particularly affected.
The experts said Iranian authorities had reportedly detained thousands of people since protests began in late December. They said reports pointed to more arbitrary arrests and politically motivated sentences, including against people from ethnic minorities, often under broad national security charges.
The experts said at least 24 members of the Baluch minority and 22 members of the Kurdish minority had been executed this year, with many more at imminent risk of being put to death. They also said Kurdish and Baluch minorities were being threatened and surveilled beyond Iran's borders.
Their statement followed comments on Wednesday by UN human rights chief Volker Turk, who said executions and death sentences in Iran had risen since March 19. Turk said at least 56 people had been executed on national security-related charges, including 27 in cases linked to protests at the start of the year, and that more than 100 others were at risk of execution on similar charges.
Iranian authorities have attributed the violence around the protests to “terrorist acts” orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Amnesty International said Iran put to death more than 2,150 people last year, making it the world's most prolific executioner after China.
The experts included Mai Sato, the special rapporteur on the rights situation in Iran, and other rapporteurs covering freedom of religion, arbitrary executions, minority issues, judicial independence and freedom of assembly. Special rapporteurs are independent experts mandated by the Human Rights Council and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself.
Update
Independent UN rights experts urged Iran to end what they described as escalating arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and arbitrary executions of ethnic minorities.
The experts said Kurdish and Baluch minorities were particularly affected.
The experts said Iranian authorities had reportedly detained thousands of people since the late-December protest movement began.
The experts said at least 24 Baluch and 22 Kurdish people had been executed this year, with many more at imminent risk.
The experts said threats and surveillance against Kurdish and Baluch minorities extended beyond Iran's borders.
Source note: AFP news report published on 6 August 2026 at 12:40:39 UTC.
Update
Volker Turk said more than 100 others are at risk of execution on similar national security-related charges.
Turk said executions for drug-related offences are continuing at an alarming rate.
Turk raised concerns about lack of fair trial and due process guarantees and alleged confessions obtained under torture or ill-treatment.
Turk said several executions were reportedly public and some reportedly took place only weeks after arrest.
Turk said 12 defendants were reportedly sentenced to death after a single three-hour closed-door hearing.
The item adds context on the protest movement, Iranian authorities' reported death toll and accusations made by rights groups abroad.
Amnesty International said Iran put to death more than 2,150 people last year.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 11:05:55 UTC.
Update
UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences in Iran since March.
Turk said at least 56 people had been executed since March 19, 2026, on national security-related charges.
Turk said 27 of those executed were in cases linked to protests at the start of the year.
Turk said capital punishment was being used to instil fear.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 10:25:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of people detained since the protests began is reported as thousands but is not given precisely.
The experts' allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance and politically motivated sentences are claims that are not independently established in the supplied material.
The number of people described as at imminent risk of execution is not specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .