UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Iran: “Frightening” number of executions in Iran

“The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today expressed dismay at the frighteningly high number of executions this year in Iran, we call on authorities to follow the lead of most other States and to abolish the death penalty or halt all executions,” Shamdasani said.

“On average so far this year, over 10 people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one of the world’s highest executors. Since 1 January, sources say at least 209 people have been executed -- mostly for drug-related offences and a disproportionately high number representing minorities.”

The exact number of executions is unknown due to lack of Government transparency, and the figure is likely to be higher.

“At this rate, Iran is worryingly on the same track as last year when around 580 people were reportedly executed, this is an abominable record, particularly when you consider the growing consensus for universal abolition of the death penalty,” Shamdasani said.

“Only a small number of States still impose and apply the death penalty. On Saturday, Iran executed Habib Chaab, a Swedish-Iranian from the Ahwazi Arab minority, for ‘corruption on earth’, a capital offence under Iran’s strict interpretation of Islamic law,” she said.

Reports on Monday said Yousef Mehrdad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare were executed for crimes including blasphemy.

“Sources say at least 45 people, including 22 from the Baluch minority, were executed in the last 14 days alone. Most were executed for drug-related charges. Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international human rights norms and standards,” the spokesperson said.

The Human Rights Committee, the body responsible for the authoritative interpretation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is clear on prohibiting imposition of the death penalty for any but the “most serious crimes” – crimes of extreme gravity, involving intentional killing. Drug offences do not meet this threshold.

The High Commissioner urged the Iranian authorities to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

“International law, to be clear, does not permit executions for the so-called offense of blasphemy. These kinds of offenses; corruption on earth, blasphemy are very broadly defined, are ill defined, and open themselves to misinterpretation, to abuse, to arbitrary applications of the death penalty, which then of course leads to an arbitrary deprivation of life,” she said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact: 

In Geneva

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or 

Jeremy Laurence -  +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

In Nairobi

Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org

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