Press release

皇冠体育app regime cannot ignore calls for change: UK and partners call out Iran over executions

皇冠体育app UK鈥檚 Minister of State for the Middle East has urged the Iranian regime to end the surge in executions, following a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

皇冠体育app UK鈥檚 Minister of State for the Middle East Lord (Tariq) Ahmad has urged the Iranian regime to listen to the calls from the international community and end the surge in executions, following a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council today.

皇冠体育app UN Fact Finding Mission, set up by the Human Rights Council earlier this year to investigate Iran鈥檚 human rights violations, reported to the Council on human rights violations during recent protests in Iran.

Following the meeting, more than 50 states, including the UK, signed a statement led by Costa Rica criticising the 鈥榓larming pace鈥� of executions in Iran.

皇冠体育app regime has carried out more than 300 executions in 2023 alone. This is a shocking trend 鈥� executions are on track to exceed 2022, and more than double 2021鈥檚 figures. Analysis of the executions has shown that many are for minor crimes such as non-violent drug offences and the list included five individuals arrested following the death of Mahsa Amini.

皇冠体育app statement called out the frequent reports of forced confessions, following torture and inhumane treatment, leading to death penalty sentences in Iran.

Lord Ahmad said:

皇冠体育app UK and our partners have today condemned the Iranian regime for their brutal use of executions to stifle dissent.

皇冠体育app regime cannot continue to ignore the calls from the Iranian people, and the international community, for change.

A moratorium on the death penalty must be the first step聽in the regime changing course and listening to the concerns of the Iranian people.

皇冠体育app UK has more than 350 sanctions in place on Iranian individuals and entities in response to the regime鈥檚 actions, including on the Prosecutor General and Deputy Prosecutor General who are responsible for Iran鈥檚 application of the death penalty.

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Updates to this page

Published 5 July 2023
Last updated 5 July 2023 show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. First published.