Iran urged to stop protest-related executions

Independent UN human rights investigators on Thursday called for Iran to immediately halt the execution of 10 men who took part in a protest in the central city of Isfahan earlier this year, warning that some of their relatives have already been called for final visits.The appeal by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran follows the 19 July execution of two other men in the same case – Erfan Esfandiari, reportedly 18-years-old, and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, a 23-year-old Afghan national – which it strongly condemned. The development is unfolding against a backdrop of longstanding UN concern over the surge in the use of the death penalty in Iran and ongoing hostilities in the region which began in late February. Families summonedAll 12 men were arrested in connection with protests on 8 January in Isfahan’s Alikhani Square that led to the killing of four members of the security forces. “According to credible information, the families of at least two of the remaining 10 men have been summoned for final visits, suggesting that more executions are imminent,” the rights experts said. They noted that the executions continue a pattern linked to nationwide protests that be...