More than 30 countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, have condemned Iran's use of capital punishment, saying in a joint statement on Wednesday the Islamic Republic was executing protesters to "silence dissent". Tehran accused its critics of hypocrisy.
Issued on: 13/08/2026 - 17:02
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Joined by the European Union's top diplomat, the countries said they "condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty" by Iran. "The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified," the statement said. "The people of Iran must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear." Initially signed by 26 countries and the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the declaration has since been endorsed by five more countries, the French foreign ministry told news agency AFP. The 32 signatories called on Iran to "immediately end the use of the death penalty and release all those arbitrarily detained". Tehran should "listen to the voice of its people as they demand change", they continued. Iran drives global executions to highest level since 1981: Amnesty 'Hypocrisy' Iran's foreign minister dismissed the criticism, saying: "Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about 'human rights' and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing. "Your backing of Israel's genocide in Gaza – and aggression against Iran – has destroyed whatever moral high ground you imagined you had," Abbas Araghchi posted on X. The joint statement adds to growing alarm from the United Nations and rights groups over a surge in executions in recent months, after Iran was rocked by nationwide anti-government protests earlier in the year and the start of the Middle East war in February. Earlier in August, UN rights chief Volker Turk said the death penalty was being used by Tehran to "instil fear". According to the UN, since 19 March, Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges, including 27 people in cases linked to the protests. More than 100 others are at risk of being put to death on similar charges, Turk said. The UN has also warned of a lack of fair trials and forced confessions.
