UN condemns executions in Iran but can do nothing
2023.01.10 07:35
UN condemns executions in Iran but can do nothing
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – The head of the United Nations’ human rights office stated that the Iranian government was using the death penalty as a weapon to intimidate the population and suppress dissent, describing the executions as “state sanctioned killing.”
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated, “The weaponization of criminal procedures to punish people for exercising their basic rights – such as those participating in or organizing demonstrations – amounts to state sanctioned killing,” adding that the executions violated international human rights law.
Two people were hanged from a tree in Iran on Saturday for allegedly murdering a security guard during nationwide protests; additional individuals have since been given death sentences.
According to the statement, the U.N. Human Rights Office has received information that two additional executions are imminent, and up to 100 individuals are facing charges for capital crimes.
In a statement, Turk said that the cases involved numerous violations of due process and a fair trial, such as the use of vaguely worded criminal provisions, the denial of access to a preferred lawyer, forced confessions under torture, and the denial of a meaningful right of appeal.
The Islamic Republic sees its crackdown on protests as an effort to safeguard national sovereignty, despite the fact that it has laid the blame for the uprising on its adversaries abroad, including the United States.
Mohammad Ali Alnsour, a senior U.N. rights official, stated at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday that Turk continues to push for a trip to the country and a meeting with its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The statement from the U.N. rights office was strongly worded.
Alnsour added, without providing additional details, that a separate in-person meeting between Iranian and Turkish authorities is planned “very soon.”
He stated, “We cannot simply remain silent when there are very serious violations.”
In November, the Human Rights Council in Geneva approved the appointment of a three-member independent fact-finding mission to investigate Iran’s suppression of protests. Alnsour stated that thousands of submissions had already been received.
The protests, one of the most daring challenges to the clergy leadership since the 1979 revolution, have received support from Iranians from all walks of life and called for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic’s leaders.
More Prince Harry’s memoirs have appeared on sale
The protests have slowed down since the executions began, which have been condemned by a growing number of nations.
