UN human‑rights chief Volker Türk says he is “alarmingly” concerned as executions in Iran climb. Reports show at least 56 people have been put to death on national‑security‑related charges since 19 March, including 27 linked to January’s nationwide protests.
Twelve defendants were said to have been sentenced, with some condemned to death only weeks after arrest or in a single, three‑hour closed‑door hearing. Public executions have also occurred, with some carried out in squares and on city streets.
Amnesty International blamed a record 2,159 executions last year, placing Iran second after China in death‑penalty use worldwide. The unrest in January, the war with Israel, and the current conflict have pushed the Iranian judiciary to a fever‑pitch of killings.
The UN stresses that “such punishment has no place in our world” and urges authorities to stop executions and pursue abolition. It also highlights lingering concerns about due‑process violations, including torture and confessions forced under duress.
For more details, see the full BBC report here.
