Rights monitor condemns Iran’s ‘dramatic escalation of executions’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Human Rights Watch on Friday condemned Iran’s “dramatic escalation of executions,” adding to the international outcry over Tehran’s record as one of the world’s leading executioners.

According to the human rights monitor, Iran has executed at least 60 people since late April, mostly on drug-related charges, but also terror-related and blasphemy offences.

“Iranian authorities are apparently using executions, an inhumane punishment, following unfair trials as a show of force against its own people, who are demanding fundamental change,” said Tara Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Among those put to death were protesters who took part in nation-wide demonstrations last year, demanding reforms.

On Tuesday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Iran had put to death on average 10 people per week this year, putting it on the same track as last year when about 580 people were executed. “This is an abominable record, particularly when you consider the growing consensus for universal abolition of the death penalty,” said Turk.

The rise in executions is tied to drug-related charges according to Human Rights Watch. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has described his country as “at the forefront of the fight against drugs.” Iran accounts for 92 percent of global seizures of opium, according to Tehran’s anti-narcotics chief.

Members of minority groups number disproportionately among those put to death.

Between March 2022 and March 2023, at least 83 Kurds were executed, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).

“Among them were 37 people accused of ‘premeditated murder’ and 41 others accused of drug-related crimes,” KHRN said in their annual report released in April.

Four Kurdish political prisoners - identified as Firouz Mousalou, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Sarkawt Ahmadi and Mohyeddin Ebrahimi - were also executed.

“These individuals were severely tortured during their detention and sentenced to death in unfair trials. The death sentences of Mousalou, Karami and Ahmadi were executed without informing their families or lawyers. Only Ebrahimi’s family visited him the day before his execution,” said KHRN.

In the Baluchistan area, at least 20 people were executed on drug-related charges in the six days between April 29 and May 4, according to Haal Vash Human Rights Group.

UN’s Turk said “Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international human rights norms and standards.”

Human Rights Watch’s Sepehri Far urged the international community to “unequivocally condemn this terrifying trend and press Iranian officials to halt these executions.”

Human rights monitors say the actual number of executions is likely higher than the reported cases.

Tehran has rejected criticism of its execution record. The foreign ministry spokesperson this week condemned “meddlesome statements” from European governments after Swedish-Iranian dissident Habib Farajollah Chaab was executed for “terrorism” and “spreading corruption on earth” in connection with allegations we was involved in a 2017 deadly attack on a military parade.

Rights monitor condemns Iran’s ‘dramatic escalation of executions’

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