The United Nations' top human rights official on Monday urged Iran to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty, citing a surge in executions across the country.
“Reports that there have been several hundred executions in Iran so far this year underscore how deeply disturbing the situation has become and the urgent need for an immediate moratorium in the country on the use of the death penalty,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement.
According to data gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, at least 612 people were executed in the first half of 2025. That figure is more than double the number recorded in the same period last year.
“It is alarming to see the reports that indicate there are at least 48 people currently on death row – 12 of whom are believed to be at imminent risk of execution,” Türk said.
The UN said more than 40 percent of the executions so far this year were for drug-related offences, while others were convicted under broad and vaguely worded charges, including “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth.”
Human rights experts have repeatedly warned that such charges are often used to criminalize political dissent and suppress freedom of expression.
“Information received by my office also indicates that judicial proceedings in a number of cases, often held behind closed doors, have consistently failed to meet due process and fair trial guarantees,” the High Commissioner said.
Minority groups remain disproportionately affected by executions, the UN added, although it did not specify which groups were most at risk. Rights organizations have previously documented disproportionate targeting of Iran's Baluch, Kurdish, and Baháʼí communities in politically sensitive cases.
The rise in executions follows a wave of repression in the aftermath of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Guardian Council is in the final stages of reviewing a controversial espionage bill that would expand the definition of “collaboration with hostile states”—an offence punishable by death.
The proposed legislation includes acts such as online communication, cooperation with foreign media, and what it terms “ideological alignment” with foreign governments.
“This bill dangerously broadens the scope of capital punishment for espionage, and I call for it to be rescinded,” Türk said.
“The death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and irreconcilable with human dignity,” he added. “Instead of accelerating executions, I urge Iran to join the worldwide movement abolishing capital punishment, starting with a moratorium on all executions.”
Iran is one of the world’s top executioners, second only to China, according to human rights groups.
