UN Special Rapporteur: The Islamic Republic Executes Individuals with 'Violation of Fair Trial'

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, on Tuesday, September 5, released a series of posts on 'X' highlighting the execution of at least 93 individuals in Iran in the previous month, stating that only a portion of these executions were officially reported by the Islamic Republic. Sato expressed concern regarding the execution of Reza Rasayi, a detainee from the nationwide protests of 2022, on August 7, citing reliance on confessions obtained through torture and the retraction of testimonies by other individuals in the case. She emphasized the 'necessity of transparency' in judicial processes, stating that executions carried out with 'violation of fair trial and legal procedures' are considered 'illegal' and 'irreversible.' The UN Special Rapporteur expressed 'serious' concern that innocent individuals may have been executed or may be executed based on reports received regarding the current implementation of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Alongside several other UN experts, Sato reported on September 1 that the number of executions by the Islamic Republic in August was more than double the 45 executions carried out in July. The report indicated that so far this year, 400 Iranian citizens, including 15 women, have been executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. UN experts noted that according to claims by Iranian officials, nearly half of those executed had committed drug-related offenses, adding that 'executions for drug-related offenses violate international standards.' The spokesperson for the US State Department reacted to this report, describing the execution statistics in Iran and the judicial process leading to such sentences as 'concerning.' Matthew Miller criticized the Iranian judicial system during his daily press conference, stating that this institution is 'not at all independent or inclusive of fair trial.' Amnesty International reported that the Islamic Republic was responsible for 74% of recorded executions worldwide last year. The executed individuals include ethnic minorities, especially Baluchis, women, and those who were minors at the time of the crime.