On Wednesday, August 12, the European Union and 26 countries around the world issued a joint statement condemning the wave of executions of protesters in Iran. They called on the Iranian regime to immediately end its use of the death penalty and release those who have been arbitrarily detained.
According to Reuters, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, announcing the statement, said the signatories had called on Iranian regime officials to listen to the people’s demands and take meaningful steps to ensure respect for human rights.
The statement emphasizes the urgent need to halt executions and release those who have been arbitrarily detained. The statement comes amid growing international concern over the issuance and implementation of death sentences against detainees from recent protests in Iran.
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UN experts condemn the execution sentences against 12 young protesters
UN experts also condemned, in late July, the death sentences issued against 12 young people in connection with the January protests and called for their immediate annulment.
According to UN experts, the 12 individuals were tried and sentenced to death during a single court hearing, raising concerns about compliance with fair-trial standards in cases related to the protests.
Amnesty International: At least 26 protesters have been executed
Amnesty International also stated in a report published in July that, since the beginning of this year, the Iranian regime has executed at least 26 people who had been charged with various offenses in connection with the January protests.
The organization emphasized that some of these sentences were issued by Revolutionary Courts, which in these cases have faced allegations of torture, the extraction of forced confessions, and serious violations of fair-trial principles.
European Union: We oppose the death penalty under all circumstances
The European Union has previously condemned the increase in executions in Iran and has repeatedly emphasized that it opposes the death penalty under all circumstances.
The European Union considers the death penalty incompatible with the inalienable right to life and the prohibition of cruel and inhuman treatment or punishment.
The joint statement by the European Union and 26 countries around the world was issued as international pressure on the Iranian regime has increased over its suppression of protesters, arbitrary detentions, and widespread use of the death penalty in cases related to the protests.
The countries that signed the statement emphasized that instead of continuing its repression, the Iranian regime must heed the people’s demands and take practical and meaningful steps to respect human rights and end executions.
