At a Glance

• More than 30 countries sign statement
• Iran urged to halt executions
• Protest detainees called for release
• Signatories demand respect for rights

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More than 30 countries have jointly called on Iran to halt executions and release people detained during recent protests, citing concerns over the use of capital punishment and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Joint statement: Signatories condemn the death penalty as a tool to intimidate and silence dissent.
• Executions: The appeal follows Iran’s recent announcement of two executions linked to the killing of four police officers.
• Human rights: Countries call on Tehran to uphold fundamental freedoms without fear or censorship.
• Protests: Demonstrations that began over economic pressures spread across major Iranian cities.

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More than 30 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, have signed a joint statement obtained by Channel8 calling on Iran to immediately halt executions and release individuals detained during recent protests.

The signatories include a large number of European Union members and other international partners.

The countries accused Tehran of using the death penalty to intimidate, spread fear, and suppress dissent and urged the Iranian authorities to end the practice.

The joint statement comes after Iran announced the execution of two people convicted of killing four police officers during protests in January.

The signatories called on Iranian authorities to release people detained in connection with the unrest and to respect their fundamental rights.

The demonstrations began in January when traders and shopkeepers staged protests at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over the continued depreciation of the Iranian rial and rising commodity prices.

The unrest later expanded into demonstrations across several major cities in Iran.

Iranian authorities have reported that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest.

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, has said that more than 50,000 demonstrators were killed.

The figures represent sharply different accounts of the human cost of the protests.

The countries signing the statement called on Tehran to respect fundamental human rights and allow citizens to exercise basic freedoms without fear, intimidation, or censorship.

They also urged the Iranian government to take meaningful steps toward reform.

FYI

The latest statement adds to international scrutiny of Iran’s response to the January protests, particularly over executions and the detention of demonstrators. The sharply conflicting casualty estimates and continued reports of arrests have kept Iran’s treatment of protesters and broader human rights record at the center of international concern.

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