NEWS CENTER – Iranian authorities resort to escalating death sentences as a tool to intimidate society and suppress opposition, amid widespread violations of fair trial guarantees and the extraction of forced confessions under torture.

According to a report issued by the Iran Human Rights Organization, the State of Liechtenstein, on behalf of 46 countries, presented a joint statement. The signatory states expressed in their statement their strong condemnation of the escalation of death sentences issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling on the authorities to immediately suspend the implementation of this punishment.

The signatory states warned in their statement of the danger of executing dozens of other protesters, including women and children, especially after the execution of at least 31 participants in the recent protests that Iran witnessed at the beginning of this year.

Based on data from United Nations experts, the statement confirmed that resorting to the death penalty aims primarily to intimidate society, undermine opposition, and confiscate the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion.

The statement also expressed concern about reports of closed trials, violations of fair trial guarantees, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, and forced confessions, and called for an immediate halt to the use of the death penalty.