UN rights chief calls on Iran to stop executions, citing torture and unfair trials

UN rights chief Volker Türk urged Iran to halt all executions and abolish the death penalty. At least 56 people have been executed on national security charges since March 19, including 27 tied to protests. Türk cited confessions allegedly extracted under torture, public executions, and twelve defendants sentenced to death in one three-hour closed-door hearing without individual assessment of responsibility.