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UN rights chief warns that more Iranians face execution after protests

By Thomson Reuters Feb 27, 2026 | 3:05 AM

GENEVA, Feb 27 (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights chief Volker ​Turk on Friday ‌called for an immediate moratorium on the use of the death ‌penalty ​in Iran, ⁠warning that dozens ⁠more people risk execution after the first death sentence linked ​to January mass protests was issued ⁠this week.

“I ⁠am horrified by ​reports that at least ​eight people, including two ‌children, have been sentenced to death in connection with ⁠the protests,” Turk said in a speech to the ⁠U.N. ‌Human Rights Council ⁠in Geneva, ​adding ‌that another 30 ​people appeared ⁠to be at risk of the same sentence.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Friederike ​Heine)