Tuesday, October 18, 2011

UN Report: Iran's Secret Executions and Human Rights Abuses

A new UN Report detailing Human Rights abuses in the Islamic Republic has come out saying that over 300 secret executions have been conducted in Iran in 2010, and at least 146 secret executions have taken place to date in 2011 (in contrast to the 200 official executions). Reportedly neither the inmates nor their families or their lawyers were informed prior to the secret executions.


In addition, the author of the report, Ahmed Shaheed, found that a hundred of the death-row members were below the age of 18, more than a hundred executions were for drug-related offenses, and an unbelievable four percent of executions stipulated no charges whatsoever. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and adultery are among the listed crimes punishable by death in Iran. Individuals convicted of crimes are convicted and sentenced to death more often in Iran than any other country excluding China.


The Report, which details a number of other human rights abuses being conducted in Iran will be presented to the UN General Assembly Wednesday, October 19. Although the content of the Report is of heart-stopping atrocity, criticism of the manner in which the Report was created could be a possible point of contention. Shaheed was unable to travel to Iran while compiling the report, and thus was forced to use materials gleaned from local organizations in Iran.


- Liana

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