EU condemns ‘appalling’ pace of executions in Iran, urges end to death penalty

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The European External Action Service (EEAS) on Tuesday condemned what it described as the “appalling” pace of executions in Iran, calling on authorities in Tehran to halt the use of capital punishment and release those detained for expressing dissent.

In a statement, the EU reiterated its long-standing opposition to the death penalty, saying it “has a firm and principled opposition to the use of capital punishment in all cases and in all circumstances.” It added that “the death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.”

Iran has used capital punishment since the revolution of 1979 as a tool of repression. Tehran executed 2,063 prisoners last year, including some in public spaces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

The EU called for the release of individuals detained for exercising their rights, stating it “urge[s] Iranian authorities to release all those unjustly arrested in the exercise of their freedom of expression,” and called on Iran to adopt “a consistent policy towards the abolition of the death penalty altogether.”

The statement comes amid mounting concern over a surge in executions in Iran following months of unrest and conflict in the country. In mid-April, Iranian authorities signaled plans to fast-track trials for thousands detained during a six-week war with the US and Israel that began on February 28, raising fears of a new wave of death sentences under wartime conditions.

Rights groups say many of those executed were linked to protests or accused of collaborating with foreign adversaries - charges that can carry the death penalty.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has warned of imminent executions tied to the January protests, including two members of the Baha’i minority. The group said the detainees were subjected to “torture and other ill-treatment… to force ‘confessions’” and denied access to legal representation and medical care.

The EEAS also condemned the use of executions in response to political unrest. “We condemn in particular the use of capital punishment as a response to domestic dissent,” the statement read, adding: “Once again we call on Iranian authorities to immediately end the practice of imposing and carrying out death sentences against protesters.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have said that they are fighting on two fronts; one is the external enemy, such as Israel and the US and the other the Iranians inside the country who are allegedly assisting the enemy.

Iranian authorities on Saturday executed a protester detained during anti-government protests, accusing him of collaboration with the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, state media reported.

Erfan Kiani was detained in January in the city of Isfahan and was charged with setting public property on fire and carrying a bladed weapon, according to Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC.

Iranian authorities have said they would show no mercy to those accused of collaborating with the enemy during the January protests and the six-week war with Israel and the United States.