UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has expressed serious concern over the Iranian government’s reported execution of 29 individuals within a short span, as stated by a spokesperson on Friday.
Alarm Over Execution Rates
Kabul 24: Liz Throssell from the UN Human Rights Office emphasized that this alarming frequency of executions highlights a troubling trend. The reported executions would raise the year’s total to at least 345, including 15 women.
Ethnic Minorities and Drug Offenses
Notably, many executed were convicted of drug-related offenses, with ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Hawassi Arabs, and Baluch disproportionately affected. Throssell criticized the use of the death penalty for non-homicidal crimes, calling it inconsistent with international human rights standards.
Unverified Death Toll
The UN has not independently verified the execution figures, but reports indicate that the executions took place in Ghezel Hesar Prison, involving individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder and sexual assault.
