Berlin, Germany – The Das Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE) strongly condemns the ongoing use of the death penalty in Iran and demands that the European Union (EU) take immediate action to pressure the Iranian government to stop these cruel and inhumane practices.
Iran is one of the countries with the highest number of executions in the world. According to Amnesty International’s 2020 report on the death penalty, Iran executed at least 246 people in 2019, including two juvenile offenders. The actual number of executions could be higher, as many are carried out in secret.
The use of the death penalty in Iran is often criticized for a lack of due process and fair trial standards. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases where individuals have been sentenced to death based on confessions obtained through torture or other forms of coercion. In some cases, defendants have been denied access to legal counsel, and trials have been conducted in secret.
According to Amnesty International, Iran is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of the number of executions carried out annually. In 2021 alone, at least 267 individuals were executed, with many of them being put to death for non-violent offenses. This number is particularly concerning given the lack of due process and the prevalence of forced confessions, torture, and other forms of coercion in Iran’s criminal justice system.
Furthermore, Iran has continued to execute individuals who were minors at the time of their alleged crimes, in clear violation of international law. Despite Iran’s obligation to prohibit the use of the death penalty against individuals under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offense, it has executed at least nine individuals who were minors at the time of the crime since the beginning of 2021.
The use of the death penalty as a form of punishment is a clear violation of human rights, and the international community has repeatedly called on Iran to end this practice. However, the Iranian government has consistently ignored these calls and has even increased the number of executions carried out in recent years.
As an organization committed to promoting democracy and human rights, the Das Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE) calls on the EU to take immediate action to pressure Iran to end the use of the death penalty. We urge the EU to use its diplomatic channels to raise the issue of the death penalty in Iran with Iranian officials at the highest levels, and to make it clear that the continued use of this practice is unacceptable and will have consequences for Iran’s standing in the international community.
In addition, we call on the EU to take concrete steps to support civil society organizations in Iran that are working to promote human rights and democracy. These organizations are at the forefront of the struggle to end the use of the death penalty and to promote justice and fairness in Iran’s criminal justice system. By providing support to these organizations, the EU can help to strengthen the voices of those who are advocating for change in Iran.
Furthermore, we urge the EU to use its influence in international forums to increase pressure on Iran to end the use of the death penalty. The EU should work with other countries and international organizations to promote a strong and unified message that the use of the death penalty is unacceptable and that Iran must take steps to end this practice.
We also call on the EU to use its trade and economic relations with Iran as leverage to pressure the Iranian government to end the use of the death penalty. The EU should make it clear that continued economic cooperation is contingent upon Iran taking steps to promote human rights and democracy, including ending the use of the death penalty.
Finally, we urge the EU to work with other countries in the region to promote the abolition of the death penalty. By working together, countries in the region can create a united front against the use of the death penalty and can work to promote a more just and humane criminal justice system in the Middle East.
The Das Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE) strongly condemns the ongoing use of the death penalty in Iran and calls on the EU to take immediate action to pressure Iran to end this cruel and inhumane practice. We believe that the EU has a responsibility to promote human rights and democracy around the world, and we urge the EU to use its diplomatic, economic, and political influence to bring about an end to the death penalty in Iran. The EU must use all available channels to communicate to the Iranian government that the death penalty is a violation of human rights and has no place in a modern, democratic society. We urge the EU to work together with other international organizations, such as the United Nations, to create a united front against the use of the death penalty in Iran.
We also call on the Iranian government to respect the right to life and abolish the death penalty. We believe that no crime justifies the taking of a human life, and the use of the death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment that has no place in a civilized society. Instead, we urge the Iranian government to focus on developing alternative methods of punishment that respect human rights and promote justice.
We stand in solidarity with the families and loved ones of those who have been executed in Iran, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them. We call on the Iranian government to provide these families with the support they need to cope with their loss and to ensure that justice is served for their loved ones.
In conclusion, the Das Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE) strongly urges the EU to take action to pressure Iran to end the use of the death penalty. We believe that the EU has a responsibility to promote human rights and democracy around the world, and we call on the EU to use all available channels to communicate to the Iranian government that the use of the death penalty is a violation of human rights and has no place in a modern, democratic society. We stand with the families and loved ones of those who have been executed in Iran and call on the Iranian government to respect the right to life and abolish the death penalty. Together, we can work towards a world that values human rights, justice, and democracy for all.
