Iran executions surge since March, UN rights chief says

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Wednesday that executions and death sentences in Iran had risen since March 19, with at least 56 people executed on national security-related charges.

Turk said the figure included 27 people in cases linked to protests at the start of the year. He said more than 100 others were at risk of execution on similar charges and that executions for drug-related offences were also continuing.

“I am alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences issued in Iran since March, and that capital punishment continues to be used to instil fear among the population and suppress dissent,” Turk said.

Turk said fair-trial and due-process concerns were “deeply troubling” and said confessions had allegedly been obtained under torture and other ill-treatment. He also said several executions had reportedly been carried out in public, with some reportedly conducted only weeks after arrest. Twelve defendants were reportedly sentenced to death after a single three-hour closed-door hearing, he said.

Iran executed three people on March 19 who had been convicted of killing police officers and carrying out operations in favour of the United States and Israel. Those were the first officially announced executions linked to nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.

The protest movement began in late December over the cost of living and developed into wider anti-government demonstrations. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths and attributed the violence to “terrorist acts” orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Rights groups based abroad have put the toll higher and accused security forces of firing at demonstrators.

Amnesty International said Iran put to death more than 2,150 people last year, the highest known total outside China. Turk urged Tehran to halt all executions and move towards abolishing the death penalty.