2011 executions in Iran

The United Nations, Amnesty International, Iranian opposition leaders and others criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran for its high rate of executions in 2011. According to Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Iran executed a total of 670 people in 2011. Overview By January 16, 2011, the Iranian government had reportedly executed 47 people since the New Year; an average of about three people a day. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran decried the hangings as "an execution binge orchestrated by the intelligence and security agencies."Rights group decries 'execution binge' in Iran https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jvb7Mpvaq5h3dYHWQ2vteK2nTP0w?docId=5a0bc138a8b442b68be90d2e24163cbb https://web.archive.org/web/20110211181217/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jvb7Mpvaq5h3dYHWQ2vteK2nTP0w?docId=5a0bc138a8b442b68be90d2e24163cbb dead February 11, 2011 AP 16 January 2011 4 February 2011 By the end of the month, the United Nations reported that Iran had executed at least 66 people, including three known to be political dissidents. According to the UN, executions were running at triple the rate of the previous year when about 18 to 25 people were executed a month. The UN estimated about 300 executions occurred in Iran in 2010. Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated, "We have urged Iran, time and time again, to halt executions... I am very dismayed that instead of heeding our calls, the Iranian authorities appear to have stepped up the use of the death penalty... I call upon Iran to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty."Iran executions three times last year's rate: U.N. Robert Evans https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-executions-idUSTRE71161O20110202 Reuters 2 February 2011 1 February 2011 5 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305185143/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-executions-idUSTRE71161O20110202 live Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast blasted the West for condemning Iran's executions. He said that 80 percent of those hanged were drug smugglers and stated, "If Iran does not combat drugs, Europe and the West will be hurt."Iran lashes out at West over executions Hiedeh Farmani https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jy565vkZVhPpC0MSTS4cwiQ36maQ?docId=CNG.30ff0b57ab72bd5eaa39bfcd8d0f2119.201 https://archive.today/20130124164957/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jy565vkZVhPpC0MSTS4cwiQ36maQ?docId=CNG.30ff0b57ab72bd5eaa39bfcd8d0f2119.201 dead January 24, 2013 AFP 1 February 2011 4 February 2011 Iranian opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karrubi,Opposition leaders slam 'rubber-stamp' death sentences Meris Lutz http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/02/iranian-opposition-leaders-mir-hossein-mousavi-and-karroubi-protested-what-they-describe-as-the-rising-number-of-rubber-stamp.html Los Angeles Times 2 February 2010 4 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110209104651/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/02/iranian-opposition-leaders-mir-hossein-mousavi-and-karroubi-protested-what-they-describe-as-the-rising-number-of-rubber-stamp.html 9 February 2011 live as well as commentatorsIran Cracks Down While Egypt Cracks Up Barbara Slavin https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/31/iran_cracks_down_while_egypt_cracks_up Foreign Policy 31 January 2011 4 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110204130835/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/31/iran_cracks_down_while_egypt_cracks_up 4 February 2011 liveExecution-happy Iran adds to its rapidly growing butcher's bill Irwin Cotler Irwin Cotler https://nationalpost.com/full-comment/irwin-cotler-execution-happy-iran-adds-to-its-rapidly-growing-butchers-bill National Post 31 January 2011 1 February 2011 https://archive.today/20120708084016/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/01/31/irwin-cotler-execution-happy-iran-adds-to-its-rapidly-growing-butchers-bill/ 8 July 2012 live Frightened Iran steps up its murders Sayeh Hassan https://nationalpost.com/full-comment/sayeh-hassan-frightened-iran-steps-up-its-murders National Post 2 February 2011 4 February 2011 https://archive.today/20120708132630/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/02/sayeh-hassan-frightened-iran-steps-up-its-murders/ 8 July 2012 live asserted that the Iranian regime has stepped up executions in a bid to intimidate and silence the Iranian opposition from taking to the streets like in the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests. In May 2011, Mohammad Javad Larijani, head of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, threatened to allow the transit of illegal drugs through Iranian territory to Europe if the West continued to criticize the Iranian government for its practice of executing drug traffickers. Larajani stated that ceasing the practice would reduce the overall number of executions in Iran by 74 percent "but the way will be paved for the smuggling of narcotics to Europe."Iran threatens to let heroin, opium be trafficked to Europe if West keeps up criticism Ali Akbar Dareni https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iIur5ZeaKxyIsPBnogbMOMGaAIzQ?docId=6848360 https://web.archive.org/web/20110519090752/http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iIur5ZeaKxyIsPBnogbMOMGaAIzQ?docId=6848360 dead May 19, 2011 Associated Press 15 May 2011 16 May 2011 In July 2011, Amnesty International stated that Iran was on course for a record year in executions.Report: Iran on Pace for Record Year for Capital Punishment https://www.foxnews.com/world/report-iran-on-pace-for-record-year-for-capital-punishment/ Fox News 8 July 2011 10 July 2011 9 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210309183244/http://www.foxnews.com/world/report-iran-on-pace-for-record-year-for-capital-punishment live In the first six months of 2011, according to Amnesty, Iran had executed 320 people, an average of almost two executions a day. Other human rights groups placed the execution count even higher.Iran escalates use of capital punishment Saeed Kamali Dehghan https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/07/iran-escalates-capital-punishments The Guardian 7 July 2011 10 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110721131519/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/07/iran-escalates-capital-punishments 21 July 2011 live London In December 2011, Amnesty International reported that 600 people had been executed in Iran through the end of November, with 488 of the executions carried out for alleged drug offenses. Amnesty warned of a "new wave of drug offense executions" based on its figures that showed a threefold increase in drug-related executions from 2009. The report said that Afghan nationals were particularly at risk for drug offense, with as many as 4,000 Afghans on death row in Iran.Iran criticised over capital punishment 'killing spree' Saeed Kamali Dehghan https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/15/iran-capital-punishment 15 December 2011 16 December 2011 London The Guardian In his first report to the UN Human Rights Council on Iran in March 2012, Ahmed Shaheed, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, stated that Iran had executed a total of 670 people in 2011.Iran executed 670 in 2011, says U.N. investigator https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rights-idUSBRE82B16N20120312 Reuters 12 March 2012 18 May 2021 28 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20210518215254/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rights-idUSBRE82B16N20120312 live Public executions On April 27, 2011, Amnesty International condemned the sharp raise in the rate of public executions in Iran during 2011. By that date, Amnesty reported as many as 13 had been hanged in public, compared to 14 in all of 2010. The figure also included the first executions of juvenile offenders in the world for the 2011 calendar year. An Amnesty official stated, "It is deeply disturbing that despite a moratorium on public executions ordered in 2008, the Iranian authorities are once again seeking to intimidate people by such spectacles which not only dehumanize the victim, but brutalize those who witness it."Iran steps up rate of public executions: Amnesty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-executions-idUSTRE73Q7VV20110427 Reuters 27 April 2011 28 April 2011 Tim Castle 22 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150322103222/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-iran-executions-idUSTRE73Q7VV20110427 live https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/sharp-rise-public-executions-iran-executes-first-juvenile-offenders-2011-2011-04-27 Sharp rise in public executions as Iran executes first juvenile offenders in 2011 27 April 2011 Amnesty International 27 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110603031834/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/sharp-rise-public-executions-iran-executes-first-juvenile-offenders-2011-2011-04-27 3 June 2011 live Earlier, on April 21, 2011, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also condemned Iran's increase in public executions. He stated, "The increased number of public executions using brutal methods such as suffocation by being hoisted up by a crane are particularly grotesque and not worthy of a modern society." Norwegian research had shown 15 public executions in 2011, as compared to 19 in 2010.Norway blasts 'grotesque' hike in Iran public executions http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20110421T131936ZIIS54 AFP 21 April 2011 28 April 2011 Cranes Campaign In response to the Iranian regime's spate of public executions, in March 2011 United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) launched its "Cranes Campaign," with the goal of pressuring crane manufacturers worldwide to end their business in Iran in order to prevent the use of their equipment for such violent ends.http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/press-releases/uani-calls-terex-end-its-business-iran-new-cranes-campaign UANI Calls on Terex to End Its Business in Iran in New Cranes Campaign 16 March 2011 United Against Nuclear Iran 18 October 2011 Iran's execution binge Mark Wallace https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2011-jul-06-la-oe-wallace-cranes-iran-20110706-story.html Los Angeles Times 6 July 2011 22 October 2011 25 July 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240725230048/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2011-jul-06-la-oe-wallace-cranes-iran-20110706-story.html live Through its campaign, UANI has succeeded in pressuring Terex (U.S.),Terex Convinces Lobbying Group It Has Stopped Doing Business With Iran Bob Tita https://www.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110324-713337.html Dow Jones Newswires 24 March 2011 22 October 2011 The Wall Street Journal Tadano (Japan),Japanese firm cuts ties with Iran over crane executions Dudi Cohen http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4095895,00.html YnetNews 15 July 2011 22 October 2011 5 September 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170905005400/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4095895,00.html live Liebherr,http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/press-releases/construction-company-liebherr-end-its-business-iran-following-uani-cranes-campaign Construction Company Liebherr to End Its Business in Iran Following UANI Cranes Campaign 24 August 2011 United Against Nuclear Iran 18 October 2011 UNIC (Japan),Crane Manufacturer, UNIC, Ends Business With Iran Reut Cohen http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/08/crane-manufacturer-unic-ends-business-iran-following-awareness-campaign Neon Tommy 8 August 2011 22 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110817154223/http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/08/crane-manufacturer-unic-ends-business-iran-following-awareness-campaign 17 August 2011 dead and Konecranes (Finland)Finnish Crane Manufacturer Ends Business With Iran Reut Cohen http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/09/finnish-crane-manufacturer-ends-business-iran Neon Tommy 1 September 2011 22 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110904185848/http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/09/finnish-crane-manufacturer-ends-business-iran 4 September 2011 dead to end their business in Iran. Tadano and UNIC, both of Japan, ended their Iran sales after UANI presented graphic photographic evidence of their cranes being used in public executions in the country.http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-13421-execution-evidence-stops-tadano-selling-in-iran/ Execution evidence stops Tadano selling in Iran Stephen White 1 August 2011 ConstructionWeekOnline.com 25 October 2011 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003403/http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-13421-execution-evidence-stops-tadano-selling-in-iran/ live Secret executions An interim report on human rights in Iran released in October 2011 by Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, revealed that secret executions had been taking place in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in eastern Iran. According to Shaheed, Iranian authorities conducted 300 secret executions in Vakilabad in 2010 and another 146 executions as of the report's publication in 2011.Iran secretly executing hundreds of prisoners: UN https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iNIjjG-yxEMEkZLrSlgni4OyVlag?docId=CNG.547dfeaad0e4554dbf3ae76b3bfe7f41.361 https://web.archive.org/web/20111020130843/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iNIjjG-yxEMEkZLrSlgni4OyVlag?docId=CNG.547dfeaad0e4554dbf3ae76b3bfe7f41.361 dead October 20, 2011 AFP 17 October 2011 21 October 2011 Notable executions January 24, 2011: Iran executed political prisoners Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Hajaghaei for allegedly taking photos and footage of the Iranian election protests as well as chanting slogans promoting the People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI), a banned opposition group.Iranian opposition activists hanged for protest footage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12272067 BBC News 24 January 2011 8 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110215050911/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12272067 15 February 2011 live January 29, 2011: Iran executed dual Dutch-Iranian citizen Zahra Bahrami on drug trafficking charges which were disputed by her family. Iranian authorities initially arrested her for her participation in the December 2009 Ashura protests. Bahrami had previous criminal record in the Netherlands for drug trafficking.https://www.pipelinenews.org/2011/feb/11/brutal-iranian-regime-hangs-dutch-iranian-woman-praises.html Brutal Iranian Regime Hangs Dutch-Iranian Woman and Praises "Islamic Liberation Movement" in Egypt Vermaat Emerson 2011 PipeLineNews.org LLC 23 April 2018 23 April 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170617/https://www.pipelinenews.org/2011/feb/11/brutal-iranian-regime-hangs-dutch-iranian-woman-praises.html live In protest of her execution, the Dutch foreign ministry decided to freeze all contacts with Iran,Dutch freeze contacts with Iran over hanging https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12317138 BBC News 29 January 2011 29 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110130081427/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12317138 30 January 2011 live and later recalled the ambassador.Sahra Bahrami: Dutch recall Iran envoy in burial row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12381284 BBC News 7 February 2011 14 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110208045717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12381284 8 February 2011 live See also 2011 in Iran 2011 Iranian protests Political repression in the Islamic Republic of Iran References 2 Category:Capital punishment in Iran Category:21st-century executions by Iran Category:2011 in Iran