Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement published on April 29, strongly condemned the wave of protest repression, widespread human rights violations, and the increase in executions in Iran. At the same time, Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, also supported these positions in a message on X and warned about the worsening human rights crisis in Iran.
Both UN human rights officials emphasized the Iranian regime’s repeated use of vague security charges to silence dissent, the issuance of death sentences based on forced confessions under torture, and the systematic repression of ethnic and religious minorities.
Transfer of a death-row political prisoner to solitary confinement in Urmia, Iran
Volker Türk stated that since the beginning of the conflict, at least 21 executions have been officially announced by the regime. He stressed that the use of the death penalty, especially in the context of political protests and social unrest, is a clear violation of Iran’s international obligations and must be stopped immediately.
He also referred to widespread arrests, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, and the repressive atmosphere in the country, saying:
“I am appalled that – on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict– the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways. “In times of war, threats to human rights increase exponentially.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also called for an immediate halt to all executions and stated:
“I call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”
According to this body, over the past two months and since the start of joint Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran, at least nine people linked to the January 2026 protests, 10 accused of membership in opposition groups (the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, PMOI/MEK), and two on espionage charges have been executed.
Volker Türk also warned that the prolonged internet shutdown, which he described as the longest recorded in history at 61 days, has raised serious concerns about concealing the true scale of repression and executions. He stressed that this measure has caused widespread economic damage, disrupted education and healthcare services, deprived people of vital information during the conflict, and enabled the regime to monopolize the official narrative.
Mai Sato had also previously warned that internet shutdowns have become a tool of repression, preventing the true scale of killings, executions, and human rights violations from being revealed. She believes the actual number of victims may be far higher than official figures.
Another part of the statement highlights the critical conditions in prisons and among political detainees. Severe overcrowding, shortages of food, water, medicine, sanitary facilities, and lack of access to medical care are among the issues raised.
In Chabahar Prison, prisoners’ protest the suspension of food distribution was met with severe violence, resulting in at least five prisoners killed and 21 injured. It has also been reported that two other prisoners in another facility died showing signs of torture.
Mai Sato has repeatedly emphasized the need for transparency regarding the fate of detainees, the prevention of enforced disappearances, and the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.
The statement also addresses the confiscation of citizens’ assets. Officials of Iran’s regime have seized the assets of hundreds of citizens, including around 400 Iranians living abroad—such as artists, athletes, journalists, and executives—and labeled them as traitors. This action has drawn strong criticism from human rights organizations as an example of transnational repression.
In a joint stance, Volker Türk and Mai Sato have called on Iran’s regime to immediately halt executions and implement a moratorium on the death penalty, release all arbitrarily detained individuals, restore full internet access without delay, and ensure due process and access to legal counsel for all prisoners.
