Iran executions ‘state sanctioned killing’: UN rights chief

Human rights groups say 481 protesters have been killed, including 64 minors, since the unrest began in September. The sign reads: "Women Life Freedom". [File: Raquel Cunha/Reuters]

The UN human rights chief says the flurry of death sentences handed down following the outbreak of civil unrest in Iran amount to “state sanctioned killing”, with executions being used to strike fear into the population and stamp out dissent.

“The weaponization of criminal procedures to punish people for exercising their basic rights – such as those participating in or organizing demonstrations – amounts to state sanctioned killing,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Tuesday.