In their statement, 250 cross-party signatories denounce the regime’s systematic use of the death penalty as a means to target dissidents and detained demonstrators. They emphasise that these executions are politically motivated, intended to suppress dissent and deter future uprisings through fear and intimidation. The signatories draw attention to the regime’s longstanding record of crimes against humanity, ranging from past massacres to ongoing atrocities, as documented by UN mandate holders and human rights experts.
They criticise the international community for turning a blind eye, a failure that has emboldened the regime to escalate its repression and crackdowns with impunity. The statement highlights this point, referencing atrocities associated with the state’s suppression of recent protests and the disturbing rise in executions under the new president. Recognising the resilience of political prisoners who staged weekly hunger strikes last year to demand an end to executions, the signatories call for urgent international solidarity with Iran’s justice-seeking movement.
Prof. Lord Alton of Liverpool, Co-president of the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF), emphasised the urgent need for action to prevent further atrocities in Iran and support the Iranian people’s fight for justice and freedom. He urged the UK Government to prioritise human rights and accountability in its 2025 Iran policy, highlighting that the international community’s failure to hold the regime to account has fuelled crimes against humanity and record executions. He called for an international coalition to refer the regime to the UN Security Council and prosecute its leaders through tribunals or existing mechanisms.
Bob Blackman CBE MP, President of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran (ICPDI), noted growing UK parliamentary support for ending repression and executions in Iran. He urged the UK Government to enforce sanctions and legal measures.
