UNITED NATIONS: Iran has seen a surge in executions, with the United Nations reporting that the country has put to death a minimum of 419 individuals in the first seven months of this year, representing a disconcerting 30% increase from the same period in 2022.
This alarming revelation was disclosed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his report to the UN General Assembly concerning the state of human rights in Iran.
The report highlights that among those executed were seven men whose cases were linked to their participation in nationwide protests that erupted following the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Mahsa Amini was apprehended by the morality police due to her alleged violation of Iran’s Islamic dress code, specifically, her headscarf. In all seven instances, information obtained by the U.N. human rights office consistently pointed to a lack of adherence to the necessary due process and fair trial standards as stipulated by international human rights law.
Secretary-General Guterres noted that access to proper legal representation was frequently denied, and there were disturbing reports of coerced confessions, potentially obtained through acts of torture. This grim situation raises serious concerns about the human rights landscape in Iran and underscores the need for international attention and action.
According to him, 239 individuals, constituting over 50% of the total executions during the seven-month period, were allegedly executed due to drug-related crimes, marking a staggering 98% surge compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
Guterres expressed significant concern regarding the lack of transparent and independent investigations into reported human rights violations, particularly in the context of recent nationwide protests. He also pointed out that the continued targeting of lawyers is hindering accountability for both past and ongoing violations.
The Secretary-General referenced information provided to the U.N. rights agency, which indicated that between September 17, 2022, and February 8, 2023, approximately 20,000 individuals were arrested for their involvement in the protests. Of great concern was the fact that a significant portion of those arrested appeared to be children, with an estimated average age of around 15 years, as reported by the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
While the government claimed to have pardoned “a minimum of” 22,000 individuals arrested during the protests, the Secretary-General expressed difficulty in verifying the accuracy of the arrest and release numbers.
Guterres expressed deep concern over the fact that several individuals who had been granted pardons subsequently found themselves facing new charges or being re-arrested. Among those affected were women activists, journalists, and members of minority groups. He highlighted disturbing reports of the disproportionate and excessive use of force against protesters, as well as incidents of beatings, sexual violence, and psychological abuse inflicted upon individuals while in detention.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights received information indicating that three highly regarded female actors, namely Azadeh Samadi, Afsaneh Bayegan, and Leila Bolukat, were convicted for not adhering to the requirement of covering their hair in public. Guterres shared that they had received varying sentences, which included imprisonment terms ranging from 10 months to two years, mandatory participation in weekly counselling sessions, assignments for hospital cleaning duties, a two-year driving prohibition, and the obligation to provide a ‘certificate of healthiness’ upon fulfilling their sentences.
