The United Nations on Friday denounced Iran for its systematic use of the death penalty, calling it a "tool of state intimidation." According to the organization's Human Rights Office, the country executed at least 841 people between January and August 28, 2025, with a marked increase in July, when 110 cases were recorded. This increase doubles the figure for the same month last year and reinforces international concern about the ongoing pattern of repression.
UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani maintained that the Iranian authorities ignored repeated calls to join the global consensus seeking to eliminate the death penalty. She emphasized that this year's figures confirm a significant increase in executions in the first half of 2025, reflecting the planned use of this punishment against vulnerable groups, particularly ethnic minorities and migrants.
In her speech, Shamdasani emphasized that the use of the death penalty in Iran has a disproportionate impact on historically discriminated groups. She explained that there are currently eleven people on death row . Six face charges of "armed rebellion" linked to the People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran (PMOI), while another five are convicted for their participation in the 2022 protests, which stemmed from the death in custody of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, detained for allegedly wearing her veil incorrectly.
The spokesperson emphasized that the death penalty is incompatible with the basic principles of the right to life and human dignity, as it creates a permanent risk of the execution of innocent people. "It should never be applied to conduct protected by international human rights law," she stated firmly.
He also reiterated the United Nations' call on the Iranian government to immediately halt the execution of those awaiting final judgment. Shamdasani recalled that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights , Volker Turk, had already urged Tehran to impose a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, considering this step an indispensable condition for its ultimate abolition.
The international complaint once again places the human rights situation in Iran at the center of global debate. At a time when most countries have made progress toward eliminating the death penalty, Iran's policy remains a notable setback. The UN insists that states must make clear commitments to protect life and ensure judicial processes compatible with international standards.
