France and 30 other countries condemn Iran's executions of protestors

Joined by the European Union's top diplomat, the countries said they "condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty" by Iran.

"The use of capital punishment to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and punish individuals exercising their human rights can never be justified," the statement said.

"The people of Iran must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear."

Initially signed by 26 countries and the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the declaration has since been endorsed by five more countries, the French foreign ministry told news agency AFP.

The 32 signatories called on Iran to "immediately end the use of the death penalty and release all those arbitrarily detained". Tehran should "listen to the voice of its people as they demand change", they continued.

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'Hypocrisy'

Iran's foreign minister dismissed the criticism, saying: "Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about 'human rights' and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing.

"Your backing of Israel's genocide in Gaza – and aggression against Iran – has destroyed whatever moral high ground you imagined you had," Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

The joint statement adds to growing alarm from the United Nations and rights groups over a surge in executions in recent months, after Iran was rocked by nationwide anti-government protests earlier in the year and the start of the Middle East war in February.

Earlier in August, UN rights chief Volker Turk said the death penalty was being used by Tehran to "instil fear".

According to the UN, since 19 March, Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges, including 27 people in cases linked to the protests.

More than 100 others are at risk of being put to death on similar charges, Turk said.

The UN has also warned of a lack of fair trials and forced confessions. Demonstrators in the streets of Tehran on 29 December 2025. Some shopkeepers in the capital closed their stores in protest against economic hardships and swings in Iran's embattled currency.

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Executions soar

In late December last year, a protest movement initially sparked by the high cost of living exploded into widespread anti-government demonstrations.

Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths, but attributed the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel.

Rights groups based abroad recorded a far higher toll and said the security forces had fired on demonstrators.

"Seven months after the mass atrocities committed against the Iranian people, who rose up to demand justice and dignity, the regime continues to shed blood by carrying out a growing number of executions," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an X post accompanied by the statement.

The United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on 28 February, triggering the Middle East war. Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in the country, linked to both the conflict and the protests.

Last year, Iran put to death more than 2,150 people, according to Amnesty International, making it once again the world's most prolific executioner after China. The total was more than double the number of people executed in 2024.

(with newswires)