Terrifying reports from Iran. Thousands of victims of protests and numerous death sentences

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk said on Friday that the first death sentences were handed down this week against at least eight people, two of them minors, in connection with mass protests in Iran. He also called for an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty in this country.

“I am horrified by the reports that at least eight people, including two children, have been sentenced to death in connection with the protests,” Tuerk said in a speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He warned that 30 more people may face similar sentences.

A wave of protests in Iran began in the last days of December. Although their initial cause was the deteriorating economic situation, the demonstrations quickly became political and spread throughout the country. The authorities suppressed the demonstrations, which peaked on January 8-9.

It is not known exactly how many people died, but the number of victims is increasingly estimated at thousands or even tens of thousands. These were the worst riots in the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Tehran accused the United States and Israel of inciting Iranian society to rebellion.

US President Donald Trump warned that – in response to the mass killings of Iranians – the US may strike militarily against the regime in Tehran. In recent weeks, the United States has massed large military forces in the Middle East region, indicating readiness to possibly strike Iran should the ayatollah regime fail to agree to American demands regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Tuerk also commented on the situation in the Middle East. – I am deeply concerned about the potential escalation of military operations in the region and its impact on civilians. I hope that the voice of reason will prevail, said the High Commissioner during his speech in Geneva.

On Thursday, in this city in Switzerland, talks took place between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and the US president's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They did not bring any specific result, although Aragchi described them as the “most intense and longest” round of negotiations, which have been ongoing since February 6. Further talks will probably take place next week. (PAP)

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