UN Concerned About Iran's Execution Increase

The topic is human rights.

It is Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 3:12 am.

Iran has increased its executions recently.

In short:

Protests against the government started in January, and the authorities reacted strongly.

Since then, the UN has reported many more executions, with at least 100 people facing the death penalty.

The UN Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Turk, says executions are used to scare people and stop them from disagreeing.

Volker Turk is worried about the increase in executions in Iran since March, which he believes is meant to scare people.

The executions happened after protests against the government at the start of the year and the US and Israel's decision to start a war in late February.

At least 56 people have been executed for national security reasons since March 19, 2026, including 27 linked to the early-year protests.

Over 100 others are at risk of execution for similar reasons, and executions for drug-related crimes are also happening at a worrying rate.

On March 19, Iran executed three people who killed police officers and worked with the US and Israel.

This was the first time executions related to the nationwide anti-government protests were officially announced.

Iran's government uses the death penalty to scare people, according to Volker Turk.

Volker Turk said he is worried about the increase in executions and death sentences in Iran since March.

Some executions were done in public, and some happened just weeks after the person was arrested.

Twelve people were sentenced to death after a short, closed-door hearing.

Three Iranians shared their thoughts on life under the current regime as the war continues.

In December, protests about the high cost of living turned into anti-government demonstrations.

The authorities said over 3,000 people died, but blamed it on 'terrorist acts' by the US and Israel.

Rights groups outside Iran said the death toll was higher and that the security forces shot at protesters.

The US and Israel started a joint attack on Iran on February 28, leading to the Middle East war.

Since then, arrests and executions have increased, related to both the war and the protests.

Last year, Iran executed over 2,150 people, making it the country with the most executions after China.

Volker Turk asked Iran to stop all executions and work towards ending the death penalty, saying it goes against human rights.

Such punishment should not exist, according to Volker Turk.

See more ABC coverage.

Practice Listening

Practice Listening