32 Countries Condemn Death Penalty for Protesters in Iran

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Alireza Jalilian

JAKARTA - A group of 32 countries - including 29 European countries, as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - issued a joint statement condemning Iran's use of the death penalty against protesters.

"The Iranian people must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear," said a joint statement issued by the German Foreign Ministry, reported by CNN, Thursday, August 13.

"We also urge Iran to listen to the voices of its people who demand change, and take concrete steps to ensure respect for human rights," the statement continued.

Executions and death sentences continue to occur in high numbers in the country since the US-Israeli war with Iran.

At least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 people linked to widespread anti-regime protests earlier this year, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said last week. Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, an Iranian human rights group, said the number of executions since the beginning of 2026 reached 916 people - with 15 executions taking place in August alone.

Previously in April, the European External Action Service - the EU diplomatic body that carries out the EU's security and foreign policy - called the execution rate "horrible" and urged Iranian authorities to release those arrested for protesting.