News Digest

U.N. concerned by a ‘surge of executions’ in Iran

At least 850 people have been executed in Iran in the past 15 months as part of a worsening human rights situation under reformist President Hassan Rouhani, a United Nations official said Monday. Ahmed Shaheed, the rights rapporteur for Iran, described a “surge in executions,” giving Iran the world’s the highest death penalty rate per capita. The rapporteur said he was “shocked” by the hanging over the weekend of 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari who was convicted of murdering a former intelligence officer she claimed had tried to sexually assault her.

The range of capital crimes is shocking. We have seen a person executed for making a donation to a foreign organization.

Ahmed Shaheed, the rights rapporteur for Iran

Since his appointment in 2011, Shaheed has never been allowed to visit Iran, but he has spoken to some 400 Iranians, making use of Skype and at times even receiving calls from prison. He conveyed the concern from many Iranians that ongoing negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program had allowed human rights to be placed on the back burner. A U.N. General Assembly is expected next month to vote on a draft resolution put forward by Canada and other nations condemning rights abuses in Iran.