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More than 30 countries, including France, Britain and Canada, have condemned Iran’s use of capital punishment, saying in a joint statement that the Islamic republic is executing protesters to “silence dissent.”
The countries, joined by the European Union’s top diplomat, said they “condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty” by Iran.
“The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified,” the statement said. “The people of Iran must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear.”
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Germany and numerous other European nations were among those calling for Iran “to immediately end the use of the death penalty and release all those arbitrarily detained.”
Iran’s foreign minister brushed off the criticism, saying, “Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about ‘human rights’ and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing.
“Your backing of Israel’s genocide in Gaza — and aggression against Iran — has destroyed whatever moral high ground you imagined you had,” Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
The joint statement speaks to growing alarm from the United Nations and rights groups over a surge in executions in recent months, after Iran was rocked by nationwide anti-government protests earlier in the year and the start of the Middle East war in February.
AFP
