Iran: Around 100 people executed in January and February, according to Amnesty International

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Pictures from a demonstration in Washington against the death sentences of two Iranian activists

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Allison Bailey / NurPhoto / IMAGO

According to the human rights organization Amnesty International, around 100 people were executed in Iran in January and February alone.

According to a report, at least 94 death sentences were carried out during this period.

Activists have criticized the use of the death penalty in Iran for years.

However, there are no official figures.

Most recently, the German-Iranian Jamshid Sharmahd was sentenced to death in Iran for "corruption on earth".

Jamshid Sharmahd had established himself as an activist mainly from exile in the US

campaigned out for the Iranian opposition.

The case had led to serious tensions between Tehran and Berlin.

As a result, the Foreign Office expelled two Iranian diplomats, and on Wednesday Iran responded by expelling two German diplomats.

According to research by the human rights organization Abdorrahman Boroumand Center based in the USA and by Amnesty, the number of executions has increased significantly compared to the previous year.

At least 250 people were executed in Iran in the first half of 2022, mainly for drug-related offences.

Iran also executed four participants in the recent wave of protests.

Death penalty as an »instrument of oppression«

Amnesty accused the authorities in Iran of using the death penalty as an "instrument of oppression" against ethnic minorities.

At least one Iranian Arab, 14 Kurds and 13 members of the Baloch ethnic minority were executed in January and February.

In Iran, capital punishment is usually carried out by hanging.

In the report, released Thursday, the organizations also noted cases of "horrific sexual violence and other allegations of torture."

This was intended to force people to make »confessions«.

hba/dpa