The United Nations announced that Iran has executed at least 40 people 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 said the Iranian people are caught between war and harsh repression. Türk emphasized that the Tehran administration has increased pressure and that the human rights situation has worsened.
Türk noted that since the start of the year, Iranian authorities have executed at least 40 people on national security grounds, 18 of whom were protesters. The statement was made at the UN Human Rights Council.
According to human rights organizations, Iran ranks among the countries with the highest number of executions worldwide, second only to China. The repression in the country has reportedly intensified following the deadly crackdown on protests earlier this year.
Türk stated that the war in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on human rights. He also 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 severe even 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 reported approximately 3,000 deaths. However, overseas human rights organizations claimed 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.
