United Nations asks Iran to free arrested peaceful protesters

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United Nations asks Iran to free arrested peaceful protesters
Photo by Artin Bakhan

Urges the country to abide international law and only impose the death penalty for the most serious crimes 

The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged Iran’s authorities to immediately free thousands of individuals jailed for peaceful protests. According to a report from the Associated Press on Tuesday, November 15, the UN department has highlighted the severity of actions by the Iran government and their crackdown on demonstrators.  

“Instead of opening space for dialogue on legitimate grievances, the authorities are responding to unprecedented protests with increasing harshness,” said Jeremy Laurence, Spokesman of the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.  

He also stated that they are calling for all charges to be dropped against the demonstrators. Asides from this, the reports said that Iran can only impose death penalty, for the most serious crimes, under international law. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights also has concerns over some protesters facing capital punishment in the country.  

Laurence also said that the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has information about at least 10 protesters who have been charged with offences that lead to death penalty. One protestor, according to the report has already been found guilty to “waging war against God” or “corruption on earth”, the report adds.  

The UN council will be holding a special session on November 24, to discuss the situation of Iran. They also plan to make a proposal for a special fact-finding mission in the country.


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