UN Condemns Surge in Iranian Executions

The UN human rights office is alarmed by Iran's execution of 29 people within two days and a total of 345 this year, predominantly for drug offenses or murder. Concerns focus on the execution of minorities and the lack of due process, citing international human rights violations.

The UN human rights office has raised alarms over reports of Iran executing 29 individuals in just two days this week. The rights chief has condemned this 'alarmingly high number' of executions in such a short timeframe.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed on Friday that 38 people were executed in July alone, amounting to at least 345 executions this year, most of them for drug offenses or murder, including 15 women.

'Imposing the death penalty for offenses not involving intentional killing is incompatible with international human rights norms and standards,' said Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the rights office, during a U.N. briefing.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the reports of 29 executions within two days this week. Throssell pointed out that minorities such as Kurds, Arabs, and Baloch were disproportionately affected and that some prisoners were executed without notifying their families or lawyers.

The United Nations has long been concerned about Iran's execution rate, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighting the 'alarming rate' of executions in the Islamic Republic in a report issued last November.