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The spokeswoman for the U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday (January 10) that the death penalty was being weaponised by Iran’s government to strike fear into the population and stamp out dissent, saying the executions amounted to “state sanctioned killing”.
“The weaponisation of criminal procedures to punish people for exercising their basic rights – such as those participating in or organising demonstrations – amounts to state sanctioned killing,” the spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani said, adding that the executions violated international human rights law.
Iran hanged two men on Saturday for allegedly killing a member of the security forces during nationwide protests and more have since been sentenced to death.
The U.N. Human Rights office has received information that two further executions are imminent.