United Nations Slams Iran for Surge in Executions; nearly 850 so far in 2025

United Nations Slams Iran for Surge in Executions; nearly 850 so far in 2025
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The United Nations’ human rights body has criticized Iranian authorities over the execution of at least 841 people between the beginning of 2025 and August 28, Rudaw reported based on data gathered by the UN Human Rights Office.

According to the UN, this is a “systematic pattern of using death penalty as a tool of State intimidation,” noting that the executions disproportionately target ethnic minorities and migrants. The high number of executions represents a major increase, with 110 individuals executed in July alone, more than double the number from July of the previous year.

The UN Human Rights Office, as well as other news sources, reported that 11 inmates are facing imminent execution. Human rights groups and news outlets have consistently reported that the government uses vague charges such as “waging war against God” (moharebeh) or “corruption on earth” (efsad-e filarz) to justify these sentences, often after what are considered grossly unfair trials and based on confessions obtained under torture.

The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called on Iran to “impose a moratorium on the application of capital punishment, as a step towards its abolition.”