Iran Has Executed at Least 56 People Since March, Says UN Rights Chief
UN Reports Surge in Executions in Iran Linked to Protest Crackdown
- Iran has executed at least 56 people since March 19, including 27 related to recent protests.
- UN rights chief urges Iran to stop all executions and consider abolishing the death penalty
- Recent executions of young detainees, including a 20-year-old, have sparked international concern and family protests
The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, announced on Wednesday that Iran has carried out the executions of at least 56 individuals since March 19.
These executions include 27 cases linked to protests earlier this year, reflecting a significant increase in death sentences related to national security charges.
Türk called on Iranian authorities to halt all executions immediately and to work towards abolishing the death penalty altogether.
He highlighted that over 100 other individuals are currently facing similar charges and face the risk of execution.
Recent weeks have seen a series of executions of young detainees involved in the January protests, with some of these cases provoking public and family protests aimed at preventing the sentences from being carried out.
One notable case involved the execution of 20-year-old Arvin Kheirkhah at Shahroud prison last Saturday. Kheirkhah was sentenced to death after being convicted by a Revolutionary Court on charges including moharebeh, or “waging war against God,” due to his participation in the protests.
His family gathered outside the prison in a desperate effort to stop his execution, with Kheirkhah reportedly pleading with them not to let him be forgotten during their final conversation.
