U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated the authorities in Tehran have been reviewing a draft espionage invoice that might redefine “collaboration with hostile states”. File | Photo Credit: Keystone by way of AP
“Reports that there have been a number of hundred executions in Iran to date this yr underscore how deeply disturbing the scenario has turn out to be and the pressing want for an instantaneous moratorium within the nation on using the dying penalty,” U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk stated in an announcement.
According to data gathered by the U.N. Human Rights Office, not less than 612 folks have been reportedly executed within the first half of 2025.
The determine is greater than double the quantity throughout the identical interval in 2024, when the Iranian authorities reportedly carried out not less than 297 executions, the assertion stated.
Minorities are disproportionately affected, it added.
“It is alarming to see the experiences that point out there are not less than 48 folks at present on dying row — 12 of whom are believed to be at imminent danger of execution,” stated Mr. Turk.
The U.N. High Commissioner for human rights stated data gathered by his workplace indicated that judicial proceedings have been, in a lot of circumstances, held behind closed doorways and had persistently failed to fulfill due course of and truthful trial ensures.
Also learn: Iran hangs man convicted of Israel spying, activists slam ‘unfair’ trial
More than 40% of these executed this yr have been convicted of drug-related offences, his workplace stated.
Others have been tried on “broad and imprecise fees equivalent to ‘enmity in opposition to God’ and ‘corruption on Earth’, which are sometimes utilized by the authorities to silence dissent”.
Tehran ‘striving’ to restrict use
Iran defended its use of the dying penalty, saying it utilized solely to probably the most severe offences.
“The dying penalty is recognised beneath Iran’s home legal guidelines for a variety of probably the most severe crimes,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
He stated Tehran was “striving to restrict using this punishment to solely probably the most extreme crimes”.
Mr. Turk stated the authorities in Tehran have been reviewing a draft espionage invoice that might redefine “collaboration with hostile states” — punishable by the dying penalty — to incorporate acts equivalent to on-line communication, collaborating with international media and “ideological alignment”.
“This invoice dangerously broadens the scope of capital punishment for espionage and I name for it to be rescinded,” stated Mr. Turk.
Also learn: Iran executes man convicted of rape
Several NGOs say that Iranian authorities have arrested tons of of individuals and executed dozens in a wave of repression following the 12-day warfare with Israel.
They have accused the Islamic republic of utilizing concern to compensate for weaknesses revealed by the battle.
Mr. Turk stated, “The dying penalty is incompatible with the fitting to life and irreconcilable with human dignity. Instead of accelerating executions, I urge Iran to hitch the worldwide motion abolishing capital punishment, beginning with a moratorium on all executions.”
Iran ranks because the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, in accordance with human rights teams together with Amnesty International.
Executions in Iran are usually carried out by hanging at daybreak.
Mr. Turk’s name got here the day after Iran executed two males, having convicted them of finishing up armed operations for the exiled opposition People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK).
“This brutality solely intensifies the outrage of the Iranian folks and reinforces the dedication of Iran’s brave youth to carry an finish to this theocratic tyranny,” MEK chief Maryam Rajavi stated on X.
Rajavi is president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political wing of the MEK, which Tehran regards as a “terrorist” group.
Published – July 28, 2025 11:30 pm IST
