There has been an “unprecedented spike” in the number of executions in Iran, Amnesty International has warned. The rights group said it believed 694 people were killed between 1 January and 15 July, almost three times the figure acknowledged by the authorities. It said credible reports suggested Iran executed at least 743 people in 2014.
BBC reports that Amnesty said the surge was disturbing as the death sentences were invariably imposed by courts “completely lacking in independence and impartiality”. “They are imposed either for vaguely worded or overly broad offences, or acts that should not be criminalised at all, let alone attract the death penalty,” it added.
“Trials in Iran are deeply flawed, detainees are often denied access to lawyers, and there are inadequate procedures for appeal, pardon and commutation.” As of 15 July 2015, the Iranian authorities had officially acknowledged 246 judicial executions this year but Amnesty International said it had received reports of a further 448 executions.
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