United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk said on Wednesday that Iran has executed at least 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 others on national security-related charges since the outbreak of the war with the United States and Israel two months ago. Türk said the executions include at least nine linked to January protests, ten for alleged membership in opposition groups and two for espionage.
Türk described the situation as a severe violation of rights and called on Iranian authorities to stop further executions, impose a moratorium on capital punishment, guarantee due process and fair trials, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained. “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,” he said.
The UN official noted that Iranian authorities killed thousands during anti-government protests in January, which rights groups describe as the country’s worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran rejected a January condemnation by the UN Human Rights Council as “politicized.”
Norway-based Iran Human Rights reported last week that at least 3,646 people have been arrested, including at least 767 cases recorded after the start of a ceasefire on April 8, underscoring continued detentions even after active hostilities eased.
Türk warned that many of those detained have been forcibly disappeared, tortured or subjected to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. He cited reports of coerced — and sometimes televised — confessions and mock executions, and said ethnic and religious minorities were especially at risk.
Dozens of prisoners have allegedly been transferred to unknown locations, among them human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, Türk said. He also reported that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi’s health was reportedly worsening after a heart attack, compounded by chronic conditions linked to her arrest.
In southeast Iran, Türk said security forces in Chabahar Prison reportedly killed at least five people and injured 21 after confronting protesters angry over a prolonged suspension of food distribution. He added that two more detainees died in custody in another prison, with indications they had been subjected to torture.
Türk’s statement frames growing international concern about human rights in Iran amid the wider conflict, pressing Tehran to end executions, ensure legal safeguards and address reports of abuse and disappearances.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/un-says-iran-has-executed-21-arrested-over-4-000-since-war-started-11428471#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-04-30 04:54:00
