20
May
2026
Watch
Repression and execution of protesters, dissidents, political prisoners and religious minorities in Iran
Mr President, Amnesty International recorded 2 707 executions in Iran in 2025, an increase of 78 % from the previous year, 2024. I join colleagues in unequivocally condemning the death penalty – it has no place in a civilised society, be it Iran, one of the oldest civilisations in the world, China or the United States. 47 of those executed last year were for politically motivated charges, according to Amnesty International. Since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, the UN has verified the execution of at least 32 political prisoners, which, again, I have no problem in joining in criticising and condemning. However, it is the silence of this House regarding those illegal attacks on Iran that equally I have a problem with. It undermines our authority and undermines our credibility to criticise these gross violations of international law and human rights in Iran. There were 2 100 civilians killed by the illegal attacks, according to Time magazine, which is not a known propagandist...