Iran executions condemned by more than 25 countries

More than 25 countries, including France, the UK and Canada, condemned Iran's use of capital punishment on Wednesday, saying in a joint statement that Iranian authorities were executing protesters to "silence dissent."

The countries, joined by the European Union's top diplomat, said they condemned "in the strongest terms" what they called Iran's ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty.

"The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified," the statement said. It said people in Iran must be able to exercise freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear.

Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany and other European countries also joined the statement, which called on Iran "to immediately end the use of the death penalty and release all those arbitrarily detained."

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."

According to the UN, 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 a lack of fair trials and forced confessions.

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

The United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, triggering the Middle East war. Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in Iran, linked to both the conflict and the protests.

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