Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of Iran's Judiciary, reacted to the UN official's condemnation of the execution of 12 prisoners accused of drug trafficking by stating that the West should thank the Iranian government instead of condemning it. On Thursday, September 11, in an interview with the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the Judiciary, he stated: 'We condemn those who have played a major role in drug trafficking and have led the youth of the country to destruction to the severest punishment, which may be life imprisonment or execution.' He further added: 'Ahmad Shahid and Western countries should be thankful to Iran, as drugs are produced in Afghanistan and their final destinations are Paris, Berlin, Washington, etc.' Ahmad Shahid, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, condemned the recent executions in Iran, deeming them contrary to international law. On September 6, the Iranian Judiciary executed 12 prisoners accused of drug trafficking, for whom Mr. Shahid had called for a halt to their execution. This UN official emphasized that the death penalty for drug-related offenses is 'ineffective' and that such penalties should not be considered for crimes that are not classified as 'serious crimes' in international covenants. However, Mohammad Javad Larijani responded to him by stating: 'We act based on our own responsibilities in Iran, and instead of being appreciated, we are condemned.' Previously, the Deputy for Social Affairs and Crime Prevention of the Judiciary had stated that the execution of 'drug traffickers' in Iran has not been 'deterrent' and has had no effect on the level of drug trafficking and consumption in the country. Mohammad Javad Larijani also mentioned that it cannot be said that these punishments are ineffective, but 'our discussion is about greater effectiveness, and of course, international issues are also important.' Iran has the second highest number of executions in the world after China, and Islamic Republic officials claim that the majority of these executions are related to drug offenses.
Larijani on Recent Executions: The West Should Thank Iran
Mohammad Javad Larijani defended Iran's recent execution of 12 drug traffickers, arguing that the West should thank Iran for combating drug trafficking originating from Afghanistan. This statement comes in response to UN condemnation, highlighting ongoing tensions between Iran and international human rights standards.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Larijani defended Iran's executions of drug traffickers, urging the West to appreciate Iran's efforts.
- Iranian Judiciary execute 12 prisoners accused of drug trafficking
- Ahmad Shahid condemn Iranian government
- Mohammad Javad Larijani respond Ahmad Shahid, Western countries
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's executions of drug traffickers are defended by officials despite international condemnation.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%