The Iranian government executed nearly 800 citizens in 2023, many following unfair trials and arbitrary detentions, US Special Envoy to Iran Abram Paley has announced.
"The Iranian government's cruelty reached new levels in 2023 with the execution of nearly 800 of its citizens, many following unfair trials and arbitrary detentions,” Paley wrote on his X account.
He pointed out that death sentences are often applied after sham trials against defendants who lacked adequate legal counsel.
"The US strongly condemns Iran's use of the death penalty to target the exercise of human rights," he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Iranian opposition launched a campaign to stop the execution of six people facing political and security charges, including four political Kurdish prisoners and two arrested during last year's protests.
Persian-speaking media abroad reported that the families of the six prisoners organized a protest in front of Evin Prison following the approval of the death sentences.
The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Organization appealed to international organizations to intervene to stop the executions.
The Organization's director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said that like many other prisoners sentenced to death, they did not enjoy the minimum standards of fair procedures.
Amiry-Moghaddam stated that the sentences are illegal even under the laws of Iran.
Last week, Paley condemned the death sentences against the four political prisoners.
"The Iranian regime continues to use false accusations, forced confessions, and unfair trials to silence political opponents and peaceful protestors. We call on Iranian authorities to release all unjustly detained political prisoners and stop repressing their people."
The US official's reference precedes an annual report issued by the Iran Human Rights Organization on the number of executions that were documented over the course of a year.
The Organization, which is responsible for monitoring executions, warned many times last year that a record number of executions would be exceeded.
According to the Organization, the authorities have executed 7,858 people since 2010, including 70 minors and 209 women.
In turn, the Human Rights Activists Agency in Iran (Hrana) said that at least 746 people were executed in Iran during 2023, representing a 32 percent increase compared to 2022.
