Iran executed 670 people last year: Dr Shaheed

United Nations Special Rapporteur for Iran and former Foreign Minister of Maldives Dr Ahmed Shaheed has said that 670 people were executed in Iran last year.

He said that most of the executions were for drug related crimes which are not liable for capital punishment under international law. Twenty executions were for offenses against Islam.

Shaheed reported that Iran violated a wide range of UN human rights accords, including abuse of minorities.

Discrimination against homosexuals and labor unions were given as examples of minority abuse.

“It is with great concern that I report the significant increase in the rate of executions in Iran from 200 in mid-September 2011 to over 600 executions by the end of the year,” Shaheed said while delivering his first report to the UN’s 47-nation Human Rights Council.

He details in the report that by December 31, Iran had executed 421 people publicly, and that he had received information by sources inside and outside the country, of 249 secret ones.

A table showing execution following homosexual conduct indicated that the number executed for homosexual conduct had soared from 100 in 2003 to 550 in 2010.

Iran heavily criticised the appointment of Dr Shaheed as United Nations Special Rapporteur for Iran. They said that Shaheed will not be permitted in Iran to carry out this work.

Dr Shaheed’s mandate was established by a narrow vote, with Russia and China opposing the resolution.

Reuters reported Dr Shaheed expressing hope that the United Nations Human Rights Council extends the duration of this position, which was initially established for a period of one year.