Tue Oct 08 21:15:01 UTC 2024: ## Iran’s Execution Spree Sparks International Outrage
**TEHRAN** – Iran has been condemned by international rights groups for its escalating use of the death penalty, with over 100 executions reported in August alone. This surge brings the total number of executions in the first eight months of 2024 to 418, a significant increase compared to previous years.
The spike in executions coincides with President Masoud Pezeshkian taking office in July, with 214 executions reported since then. This rapid pace has led to warnings that Iran could soon be dubbed the “world’s worst executioner.”
Crimes cited for executions include drug offenses, murder, rape, and national security charges. The first public execution of the year took place in August, with 21-year-old Amirreza Ajam Akrami hanged in the central city of Shahrud.
Rights groups like Iran Human Rights and Human Rights Watch are concerned about the lack of legal guarantees and due process in Iran’s judicial system, raising fears that numerous individuals could be wrongfully condemned to death.
They argue that the death penalty is being weaponized to silence dissent and instill fear among the population.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, issued a report condemning Iran’s human rights abuses, calling them “crimes against humanity and genocide.” He highlighted the use of broad national security charges, often based on religious interpretations, to target individuals and stifle opposition.
Iran has denied any wrongdoing and insists that trials are fair and transparent, with executions reserved for serious crimes. However, statistics paint a stark picture. Amnesty International reports that Iran executed at least 834 people in 2023, responsible for 74% of all recorded executions worldwide.
International actors, including the UN, have criticized Iran’s use of the death penalty and called for an end to the practice.
The report by Rehman has prompted calls for an international investigative mechanism to probe crimes under international law and hold perpetrators accountable.
Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of Iran Human Rights, urges the international community to step up its condemnation and impose sanctions against Iran to pressure the country to reform its judicial system and stop its use of the death penalty.
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