UN Condemns Alarming Surge in Iran's Executions

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed deep concern over Iran's execution of 29 people within two days, with the overall count reaching 345 this year. Most executions involve drug-related charges, disproportionately affecting minorities. International norms deem the death penalty for non-intentional killings incompatible with human rights standards.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk is deeply troubled by Iranian authorities reportedly executing 29 people in the last two days, a spokesperson announced on Friday. 'This represents an alarmingly high number of executions in such a short period of time,' stated UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Liz Throssell.

Although the death toll could not be independently verified by the United Nations, the reported executions bring the year's total to at least 345, including 15 women. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group reported Wednesday that 29 men, including two Afghans and a member of the Baluch ethnic minority, were executed for crimes such as murder, rape, and drug-related offenses at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Since the election of Iran's relatively moderate new President Masoud Pezeshkian in July, at least 87 people have been executed in Iranian prisons. Throssell emphasized that the majority of those executed were found guilty of drug-related offenses and that minorities, including Kurds, Hawassi Arabs, and Baluch, are disproportionately affected. 'Imposing the death penalty for offenses not involving intentional killing is incompatible with international human rights norms and standards,' she said.

(With inputs from agencies.)