Iran executes at least 229 people since Israel-Hamas war
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iran executed at least 229 people, mainly from Kurdish and Baluchi minorities and activists, following protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.
Human rights groups and campaigners said that authorities in Iran took advantage of the global focus on the Israel-Hamas war to conduct the executions.
Amini was a Kurdish girl killed by Iran’s Morality Police on Sept. 16, 2022, for not wearing a hijab. The incident sparked widespread protests in Iran, which were met with violent suppression by the authorities.
Since Oct. 7, the major victims of executions among minorities have been Kurdish and Baluchi, with at least quarter of the victims being from the Baluchi minority.
Additionally, two women and one child were also killed in November.
The UN warned in November that Iran was carrying out executions “at an alarming rate,” killing at least 419 people in the first seven months of 2023.
Amnesty International recorded at least 883 executions in 20 countries in 2022 , with Iran being responsible for 70% of executions in the Middle East.
“Since the start of 2023, [Iranian] authorities have implemented hundreds of death sentences. In the month of May alone, authorities executed three people a day on average,” Amnesty said.