The United Nations reported that at least 56 people have been executed in Iran since March on national security charges, including 27 who were sentenced to death in connection with anti-government protests earlier this year.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the situation in a statement on August 5, saying, "Since March, there has been an increase in executions and death sentences in Iran. I am appalled that the death penalty continues to be used as a means to instill fear among the population and suppress dissent."
According to reports from Reuters and others, thousands have died during the crackdown on nationwide protests that erupted in January. Human rights organizations have claimed that Iranian authorities have continued to suppress dissent even amid the ongoing conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes at the end of February.
Turk noted that more than 100 individuals remain at risk of execution on similar national security charges. He expressed concern over the lack of fairness and due process in trials in Iran and urged the country to halt all executions and move toward abolishing the death penalty.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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