Iran has hanged hundreds of people over the past year, drawing sharp criticism from the UN's special rapporteur on Iran, who condemned Tehran for its "unlawful executions" following a surge of death penalties carried out in August.
With at least 93 executions last month, the number is more than twice as many as the 45 executions reported in July, according to Mai Sato.
"I have been the Special Rapporteur on Iran 1 month. During August 2024, at least 93 individuals were executed. Based on information received, only a fraction is officially reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting the need for transparency," Sato said on X.
So far this year, there have been over 400 executions, including 15 women, however, concerns remain that the number is in reality, much higher. Last year, it was well over 850, most of whom were political dissidents.
"Wrongful executions are irreversible. Reports that I have received on the current implementation of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran leave me extremely concerned that innocent individuals may have been, and may be, executed," she added.
Nearly half the executions were carried out for drug offences. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a party, restricts the application of the death penalty to ‘most serious crimes’, understood as intentional killing.
“Executions for drug offences violate international standards,” a panel of UN experts said.
Among those executed last month was Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, a Kurdish protester from the Yarsani religion, banned in Iran where only Islam, Christianity and Judaism are legally recognised.
His case was, according to the UN, based on a confession reportedly obtained through torture. “Reports of serious violations of fair trial and due process rights mean that the death penalty as it is currently practiced in the Islamic Republic of Iran amounts to unlawful execution,” the UN experts said.
Sato spoke of the many sentences for broadly defined security offences such as armed rebellion, spreading corruption on earth, waging war against God, and apostasy. "International law does not permit the use of the death penalty for such offences," she added.
