UN Warns Iran's Death Penalty Surge Targets Dissent

The UN rights chief Volker Türk voiced alarm at a surge in Iran's executions since March, reporting at least 56 people executed on national-security charges (including 27 tied to January protests) and more than 100 at risk, amid ongoing drug-offense executions. He urged Iran to halt executions and move toward abolition, citing lack of fair trials, coerced confessions, and public executions, while noting Iran remains among the world's top executors.