Iran has executed 21 people and detained more than 4,000 since start of war, UN reports

The United Nations has said that at least 21 people have been executed in Iran and more than 4,000 arrested since the outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel on 28 February.

The figures were released on Wednesday (29 April) by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who outlined a series of concerns about the treatment of detainees and the use of capital punishment.

According to the UN, nine of those executed were connected to protests in January. A further 10 were put to death for alleged links to opposition groups, while two others were executed on espionage charges.

In a statement, Türk said he was “appalled” that the rights of Iranian citizens continued to be curtailed during the conflict.

"I am appalled that - on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict - the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways," Turk said in a statement.

He urged the authorities to halt executions, introduce a moratorium on the death penalty and ensure fair trial standards.

"I call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained," he said.

He also called for the immediate release of individuals held arbitrarily.

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Thousands detained amid ongoing crackdown

The UN said more than 4,000 people had been detained on national security-related charges. Many of those held were reported to have been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, or other forms of ill-treatment.

Türk said some detainees had been ''tortured, or subjected to other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including coerced - and sometimes televised - confessions and mock executions.''

Rights groups have reported a sustained crackdown following anti-government protests in January, described as the most significant unrest in Iran since the Iranian Revolution.

Norway-based organisation Iran Human Rights said last week that at least 3,646 people had been arrested, including 767 cases recorded after a ceasefire began on 8 April.

Iran has previously rejected criticism from the UN Human Rights Council, describing it as politically motivated.

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Concerns over detainees and prison conditions

Türk said ethnic and religious minorities appeared to be at particular risk. He also raised concerns about detainees whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Among them is prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has reportedly been transferred to an undisclosed location.

"Dozens of prisoners have been transferred to unknown locations with no information on their fate, among them Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh," he said. 

The UN also expressed concern for Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose health is said to be deteriorating after she suffered a heart attack. Her condition is reported to be worsened by existing medical issues linked to her detention.

Deaths reported in custody and prison unrest

In the south-eastern city of Chabahar, security forces were reported to have killed at least five people and injured 21 during a confrontation with prisoners protesting a prolonged suspension of food supplies.

Türk added that two more detainees died in custody at another facility, with indications they had been subjected to torture.

The UN said the situation reflected a broader pattern of human rights concerns in Iran during the ongoing conflict, with calls for greater accountability and adherence to international legal standards.

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News Iran United Nations Volker Turk detainee rights human rights Iran regime Political Prisoners Middle east crisis