The United Nations announced that at least 40 people have been executed in Iran since the beginning of the year, 18 of whom were protesters. The executions were carried out on national security grounds.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated at the UN Human Rights Council that the Iranian people are caught between war and severe repression. Türk emphasized that the Tehran administration has intensified its crackdown, worsening the human rights environment.
Türk noted that Iranian authorities have executed at least 40 people on national security grounds since the start of the year, 18 of whom were protesters. According to human rights organizations, Iran ranks among the leading countries in the world for executions, second only to China.
The repression in Iran has reportedly intensified following the protests at the beginning of the year, which were violently suppressed. Türk also mentioned that the war in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on human rights.
Additionally, Türk called on all parties to exercise the highest level of restraint and goodwill for the implementation of the US-Iran agreement announced on Sunday.
Repression in Iran was already severe before the war. Protests that began with economic difficulties at the end of December quickly turned into anti-government demonstrations, with human rights groups claiming thousands were killed during this period.
Iranian authorities described the protests as US- and Israel-backed uprisings and stated that about 3,000 people died in the events. However, overseas human rights organizations alleged that the death toll was higher and that security forces opened fire on demonstrators.
Türk stated that thousands were killed during the harsh suppression of protests in January, followed by numerous arrests and increased restrictions on civil society.
