Iran’s Death Penalty Shame: Sentencing Innocent Minorities and Women to Death

A disturbing trend has emerged in Iran, where the government is applying the death penalty in a discriminatory manner, sentencing innocent members of ethnic minority groups and women to death for crimes they did not commit.

Discriminatory Executions

According to recent reports, authorities have executed 130 people from ethnic minority groups in four provinces, including West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Kurdistan. This is despite the fact that these individuals make up only 2-6% of Iran’s overall population.

Systemic Discrimination Against Ethnic Minority Groups

Data from Iran Human Rights reveals that in 2022, authorities across Iran executed 174 Baluch individuals, accounting for 30% of all executions in the country. This is a stark reminder of the systemic discrimination and prejudice faced by ethnic minority groups in Iran.

Alarming Rate of Executions for Women and Girls

The situation is equally disturbing for women and girls, who are being sentenced to death at an alarming rate. According to Amnesty International, between 2010 and October 2021, at least 164 women were executed, with most being sentenced to death for drug-related offenses or murder.

Political Repression Through Capital Punishment

The use of capital punishment as a tool of political repression is also prevalent in Iran. Amnesty International reports that at least 100 people, including women, have been charged with capital offenses such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth” in connection with protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Call to Action

The international community must take immediate action to address this egregious violation of human rights. Iran’s authorities must be held accountable for their discriminatory application of the death penalty, and the country must work towards abolishing capital punishment altogether.

International Obligations

As a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has an obligation to protect the lives and dignity of its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or gender. The world is watching, and it is time for Iran to take concrete steps towards ensuring that justice is served fairly and impartially.

Conclusion

Iran’s death penalty shame is a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to address systemic discrimination and human rights violations. It is imperative that international pressure is applied to ensure that Iran respects its obligations under international law and protects the lives and dignity of all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or gender.