The number of countries that executed citizens for various crimes was the lowest at 15 in 2024, but the count of state executions globally rose to 1,518, marking a 32% increase over the previous year and the highest since the 2015 figure of 1,634, said Amnesty International in its annual report on the use of the death penalty.
The report, released on Tuesday (April 8), further cautioned that the real total is likely to be thousands more as its figure did not include the executions believed to have taken place in China, the world&rsquo;s biggest executioner, North Korea, and Vietnam.
More people were executed in 2024 due to a huge increase in executions in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Amnesty said that although the number of countries carrying out executions was the lowest on record, 1,518 executions globally in 2024 denoted a 32% increase over the previous year and the highest since the 1,634 carried out in 2015.
<h2>Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia carried out 91% of total executions</h2>
Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 91% of state executions worldwide and were the main culprits for the increase. In Iraq, executions quadrupled from 16 to 63, and those in Saudi Arabia doubled in a year from 172 to 345. Iran executed at least 972, including 30 women, 119 more than in 2023, and accounted for 64% of the global total.&nbsp; While the executions in Iraq were for terrorism offences, about half of those in Iran were for drug-related crimes.
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 Other countries where executions increased were Egypt (from eight in 2023 to 13 last year); Singapore (from five to nine); and Yemen, where the count more than doubled from 15 to 38. Yemen was also among the top five countries responsible for executions. There were a total of 25 executions in the US, one more than in 2023 and the most since 2018, in what was Joe Biden&rsquo;s last year in office.&nbsp; Biden&rsquo;s successor, Donald Trump, has said he aims to &ldquo;vigorously pursue&rdquo; the death penalty as a tool to protect people &ldquo;from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters&rdquo;. Only 15 countries executed people in 2024, the lowest on record for the second year running, Amnesty said, adding that 113 countries were now fully abolitionist and 145 had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-removal-of-witness-tree-200-year-old-magnolia-planted-by-andrew-jackson-cut-down-at-white-house-8937967" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump orders removal of White House 'witness tree': 200-year-old magnolia, planted by Andrew Jackson, cut down</a> The human rights NGO also noted that several countries had legally limited their use of the death penalty, and more than two-thirds of all UN member states had voted in favour of a resolution on a moratorium. Agn&egrave;s Callamard, Amnesty International&rsquo;s secretary general, said countries that retained the death penalty were an &ldquo;isolated minority&rdquo; as the tide was turning against &ldquo;a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment&rdquo;. But the death penalty is still being weaponised in some countries under the &ldquo;false pretence&rdquo; that it would improve public safety and in others to silence political dissent from &ldquo;those brave enough to speak out&rdquo;, Callamard added. More than 40% of executions in 2024 were for drug-related offences, which have no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking, Amnesty said.
<h2>Iran used death sentence to punish participants in 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests&nbsp;</h2>
Amnesty said Iran &ldquo;persisted&rdquo; in its use of death sentences to punish participants in the &ldquo;Women, Life, Freedom&rdquo; protests of 2022, including a youngster with a mental disability, following unfair trials and torture-tainted &lsquo;confessions&rsquo; and alone accounted for 64% of all known executions. Saudi Arabia continued to use the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish members of its Shiite minority, it added. &ldquo;Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia,&rdquo; said Callamard. Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alien-enemies-act-trump-says-great-day-for-justice-after-us-top-court-lifts-order-barring-deportations-8937346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alien Enemies Act: Trump says 'GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE' after US top court lifts order barring deportations</a> The NGO warned that the Maldives, Nigeria, and Tonga are considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, while&nbsp;the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso have announced plans to bring back executions for ordinary crimes.

World: Only 15 countries executed people in 2024, the lowest on record for the second year running, Amnesty said, adding that 113 countries were now fully abolitionist and 145 had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.

The number of countries that executed citizens for various crimes was the lowest at 15 in 2024, but the count of state executions globally rose to 1,518, marking a 32% increase over the previous year and the highest since the 2015 figure of 1,634, said Amnesty International in its annual report on the use of the death penalty. The report, released on Tuesday (April 8), further cautioned that the real total is likely to be thousands more as its figure did not include the executions believed to have taken place in China, the world’s biggest executioner, North Korea, and Vietnam. More people were executed in 2024 due to a huge increase in executions in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Amnesty said that although the number of countries carrying out executions was the lowest on record, 1,518 executions globally in 2024 denoted a 32% increase over the previous year and the highest since the 1,634 carried out in 2015. Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia carried out 91% of total executions Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 91% of state executions worldwide and were the main culprits for the increase. In Iraq, executions quadrupled from 16 to 63, and those in Saudi Arabia doubled in a year from 172 to 345. Iran executed at least 972, including 30 women, 119 more than in 2023, and accounted for 64% of the global total. While the executions in Iraq were for terrorism offences, about half of those in Iran were for drug-related crimes. Also Read | Dangerous Mpox strain Clade 1b may be spreading undetected in UK: Report Other countries where executions increased were Egypt (from eight in 2023 to 13 last year); Singapore (from five to nine); and Yemen, where the count more than doubled from 15 to 38. Yemen was also among the top five countries responsible for executions. There were a total of 25 executions in the US, one more than in 2023 and the most since 2018, in what was Joe Biden’s last year in office. Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, has said he aims to “vigorously pursue” the death penalty as a tool to protect people “from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters”. Only 15 countries executed people in 2024, the lowest on record for the second year running, Amnesty said, adding that 113 countries were now fully abolitionist and 145 had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. Also read: Trump orders removal of White House 'witness tree': 200-year-old magnolia, planted by Andrew Jackson, cut down The human rights NGO also noted that several countries had legally limited their use of the death penalty, and more than two-thirds of all UN member states had voted in favour of a resolution on a moratorium. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, said countries that retained the death penalty were an “isolated minority” as the tide was turning against “a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment”. But the death penalty is still being weaponised in some countries under the “false pretence” that it would improve public safety and in others to silence political dissent from “those brave enough to speak out”, Callamard added. More than 40% of executions in 2024 were for drug-related offences, which have no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking, Amnesty said. Iran used death sentence to punish participants in 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests Amnesty said Iran “persisted” in its use of death sentences to punish participants in the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests of 2022, including a youngster with a mental disability, following unfair trials and torture-tainted ‘confessions’ and alone accounted for 64% of all known executions. Saudi Arabia continued to use the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish members of its Shiite minority, it added. “Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia,” said Callamard. Also read: Alien Enemies Act: Trump says 'GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE' after US top court lifts order barring deportations The NGO warned that the Maldives, Nigeria, and Tonga are considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso have announced plans to bring back executions for ordinary crimes.

State executions rise 32% to decade high; Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia behind ‘sharp surge’

Iran is carrying out executions "at an alarming rate," putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That's a 30% increase from the same period in 2022.

Iran executes at least 419 people in the first seven months of 2023

Iran has hanged at least 354 people in the first six months of 2023, a rights group said Monday, adding that the pace of executions was much higher than in 2022.

Rights groups have accused Tehran of increasing the use of the death penalty to spread fear across society in the wake of the protest movement that erupted last September over the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating strict dress rules for women.

Norway-based Iran Human Rights said the 354 people figure for the first six months up to June 30 was up 36 percent on the same period in 2022, when 261 people were executed.

Emphasising concerns that non-Persian ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by executions in Iran, it said 20 percent of all executions were of members of the Sunni Baluch minority.&nbsp;

Watch | India hosts SCO meet; Putin's first summit since Wagner rebellion | Iran set to join grouping

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It said 206 people were executed for drug-related charges, a 126 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

Six women were among those executed in the period while two men were publicly hanged, it added.

"The death penalty is used to create societal fear and prevent more protests," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.

"The majority of those killed are low-cost victims of the killing machine, drug defendants who are from the most marginalised communities."

IHR earlier this year had reported that Iran carried out 582 executions in 2022, the highest figure in the Islamic republic since 2015.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-holds-off-sending-ambassador-to-sweden-in-protest-over-koran-incident-611105">Iran holds off sending ambassador to Sweden in protest over Quran incident</a>

Iran is the world's second biggest executioner after China for which no data is available, according to Amnesty International.

Iranian authorities have executed seven men in cases related to the protests, with rights groups warning at least seven more arrested over the demonstrations are at imminent risk of execution.

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&nbsp;

Iran has hanged at least 354 people in the first six months of 2023, a rights group said Monday, adding that the pace of executions was much higher than in 2022.

Iran has hanged at least 354 people in the first six months of 2023, a rights group said Monday, adding that the pace of executions was much higher than in 2022. Rights groups have accused Tehran of increasing the use of the death penalty to spread fear across society in the wake of the protest movement that erupted last September over the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating strict dress rules for women. Norway-based Iran Human Rights said the 354 people figure for the first six months up to June 30 was up 36 percent on the same period in 2022, when 261 people were executed. Emphasising concerns that non-Persian ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by executions in Iran, it said 20 percent of all executions were of members of the Sunni Baluch minority. Watch | India hosts SCO meet; Putin's first summit since Wagner rebellion | Iran set to join grouping × It said 206 people were executed for drug-related charges, a 126 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Six women were among those executed in the period while two men were publicly hanged, it added. "The death penalty is used to create societal fear and prevent more protests," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. "The majority of those killed are low-cost victims of the killing machine, drug defendants who are from the most marginalised communities." IHR earlier this year had reported that Iran carried out 582 executions in 2022, the highest figure in the Islamic republic since 2015. Also Read | Iran holds off sending ambassador to Sweden in protest over Quran incident Iran is the world's second biggest executioner after China for which no data is available, according to Amnesty International. Iranian authorities have executed seven men in cases related to the protests, with rights groups warning at least seven more arrested over the demonstrations are at imminent risk of execution. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Iran executed 354 people in first half of 2023: Rights group

After a spate of arrests and executions for drug offences, Ibrahim, a dealer in Saudi Arabia, is not taking any chances.

"I don't deal with new clients or go to the clients myself," said the 37-year-old, using a pseudonym to protect his identity.

"They have to take on the risk," he told AFP from the Red Sea city of Jeddah, weeks after several of his customers were arrested.

Ibrahim is on the front lines of a war on drugs in Saudi Arabia, which has seen an influx of addictive amphetamine captagon flooding in from war-torn Syria and Lebanon.

After becoming a major market, Saudi Arabia is hitting back, ending a moratorium on the death penalty for drug cases and launching a zealous crackdown.&nbsp;

The result is at least 20 executions for drug offences since last year, according to an AFP tally, and a sharp rise in arrests.

At least two Saudi security officers have been killed in drug raids, including one last week, according to state media.&nbsp;

"Several of my customers were recently arrested in a private compound," said Ibrahim, who mainly sells captagon and hashish. "This never used to happen before."

Acts of violence committed by drug users prompted the crackdown, a security official told AFP.

They include a recent case in which a drug addict killed his parents by dousing them with fuel and setting them on fire, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press.

<h2>Party pill</h2>

Across Jeddah, roadside billboards urge citizens to report any illicit drug activities to the authorities.

While alcohol is illegal in the conservative country, it is also believed to be the world's biggest market for captagon, which is used by wealthy Saudis as a party pill and by workers to stay awake during long shifts.

While previous anti-drug campaigns targeted smuggled shipments, mainly from Syria and Lebanon, the latest initiative is zeroing in on dealers and users within the country.

Apparently to provide a deterrent, a nearly three-year moratorium on executions for drug crimes was scrapped last year. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest users of capital punishment, executing 147 people in 2022.

"In the last year to two years, we have seen an uptick in internal arrests and the use of the death penalty (in drug cases)," said Caroline Rose of the New Lines Institute think tank.

The shift from border seizures to arrests of dealers is partly due to "a focus on security issues surrounding captagon and a recognition of just how deep some of these networks go", Rose told AFP.

The campaign is also aimed at keeping drugs out of the hands of Saudi youth, the drivers of an ambitious reform agenda to diversify the oil-dependent economy. Fifty-one per cent of the 32.2 million population is under 30.

"Saudi Arabia is carrying out a huge economic project...and the youth are the main pillar of this project," said Sulaiman al-Oqaily, a Saudi political analyst.

<h2>Addiction on the rise</h2>

Rampant drug use is taking its toll, with more than 200,000 addicts in Saudi Arabia, according to health ministry figures cited by domestic media.

Growing numbers are seeking addiction treatment, mainly because they fear arrest, said Hamad al-Sheehan of the Rushd Specialized Center in Riyadh.

"After the recent campaign, the numbers have increased at the centre," the director of treatment said from his office, where at least 10 young men were waiting to be seen.

"We currently receive 1,000 people per month instead of only 100 previously."&nbsp;

He said that captagon and other methamphetamine-type drugs are among the most abused in the kingdom. Most of his patients are between 17 and 21 years old and half are women, he said.&nbsp;

If Sheehan's patients fear arrest, the crackdown is working, Oqaily said.&nbsp;

"The message is if you don't fear for yourself, you should fear the government," he said.

Last month, Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef warned drug dealers and smugglers that they will not escape.

"We are still at the beginning of the campaign," he said. 
&nbsp;

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After a spate of arrests and executions for drug offences, Ibrahim, a dealer in Saudi Arabia, is not taking any chances. "I don't deal with new clients or go to the clients myself," said the 37-year-old, using a pseudonym to protect his identity.

After a spate of arrests and executions for drug offences, Ibrahim, a dealer in Saudi Arabia, is not taking any chances. "I don't deal with new clients or go to the clients myself," said the 37-year-old, using a pseudonym to protect his identity. "They have to take on the risk," he told AFP from the Red Sea city of Jeddah, weeks after several of his customers were arrested. Ibrahim is on the front lines of a war on drugs in Saudi Arabia, which has seen an influx of addictive amphetamine captagon flooding in from war-torn Syria and Lebanon. After becoming a major market, Saudi Arabia is hitting back, ending a moratorium on the death penalty for drug cases and launching a zealous crackdown. The result is at least 20 executions for drug offences since last year, according to an AFP tally, and a sharp rise in arrests. At least two Saudi security officers have been killed in drug raids, including one last week, according to state media. "Several of my customers were recently arrested in a private compound," said Ibrahim, who mainly sells captagon and hashish. "This never used to happen before." Acts of violence committed by drug users prompted the crackdown, a security official told AFP. They include a recent case in which a drug addict killed his parents by dousing them with fuel and setting them on fire, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press. Party pill Across Jeddah, roadside billboards urge citizens to report any illicit drug activities to the authorities. While alcohol is illegal in the conservative country, it is also believed to be the world's biggest market for captagon, which is used by wealthy Saudis as a party pill and by workers to stay awake during long shifts. While previous anti-drug campaigns targeted smuggled shipments, mainly from Syria and Lebanon, the latest initiative is zeroing in on dealers and users within the country. Apparently to provide a deterrent, a nearly three-year moratorium on executions for drug crimes was scrapped last year. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest users of capital punishment, executing 147 people in 2022. "In the last year to two years, we have seen an uptick in internal arrests and the use of the death penalty (in drug cases)," said Caroline Rose of the New Lines Institute think tank. The shift from border seizures to arrests of dealers is partly due to "a focus on security issues surrounding captagon and a recognition of just how deep some of these networks go", Rose told AFP. The campaign is also aimed at keeping drugs out of the hands of Saudi youth, the drivers of an ambitious reform agenda to diversify the oil-dependent economy. Fifty-one per cent of the 32.2 million population is under 30. "Saudi Arabia is carrying out a huge economic project...and the youth are the main pillar of this project," said Sulaiman al-Oqaily, a Saudi political analyst. Addiction on the rise Rampant drug use is taking its toll, with more than 200,000 addicts in Saudi Arabia, according to health ministry figures cited by domestic media. Growing numbers are seeking addiction treatment, mainly because they fear arrest, said Hamad al-Sheehan of the Rushd Specialized Center in Riyadh. "After the recent campaign, the numbers have increased at the centre," the director of treatment said from his office, where at least 10 young men were waiting to be seen. "We currently receive 1,000 people per month instead of only 100 previously." He said that captagon and other methamphetamine-type drugs are among the most abused in the kingdom. Most of his patients are between 17 and 21 years old and half are women, he said. If Sheehan's patients fear arrest, the crackdown is working, Oqaily said. "The message is if you don't fear for yourself, you should fear the government," he said. Last month, Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef warned drug dealers and smugglers that they will not escape. "We are still at the beginning of the campaign," he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saudi Arabia launches crackdown on drugs with raids, executions

Singapore on Wednesday hanged a man for trafficking drugs, said the authorities, marking its second execution in three weeks.&nbsp;

The alleged accused was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) of cannabis, Kokila Annamalai of local rights group Transformative Justice Collective told news agency AFP.

Singapore has one of the toughest anti-narcotics laws and as per the law, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis can result in the death penalty.

"A 36-year-old Singaporean man had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex," a spokesman for the city-state's prison service told AFP.

Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) released a statement saying that it would not reveal the name of the man in order to respect his family's wish for privacy.

"The person was accorded full due process under the law, and had access to legal counsel throughout the process," CNB added.

"A last-ditch appeal to review the case and stay his execution was dismissed on Tuesday", Annamalai said.

Despite growing calls for the city-state to abolish the death penalty and halt drug-related executions, Singapore presses that it is an effective impediment against trafficking.

<h2>Singapore executes Indian-origin man for conspiring to traffic cannabis</h2>

Earlier, on April 26,&nbsp;Singapore executed an Indian-origin man, who was convicted of conspiring to traffic one kilogramme of cannabis. The decision to hang him was taken despite pleas for clemency from his family, activists and also the United Nations.&nbsp;

A spokesman for the Singapore Prison Service told the news agency AFP that the "Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex."&nbsp;

Reuters reported that Kokila Annamalai, who is a Singapore-based rights activist representing the family, confirmed that Suppiah had been executed by hanging. It also mentioned that the president had rejected pleas for clemency on the eve of the execution.&nbsp;

The United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore had urged the authorities to "urgently reconsider" the decision of hanging, and British tycoon Richard Branson also asked to halt it.

Branson, who is a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote a blog earlier this week about Tangaraju. He mentioned that the Singaporean man was "not anywhere near" the drugs at the time of his arrest and that Singapore may be about to put an innocent man to death.&nbsp;

He was convicted in 2017 of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9 grammes of cannabis. The quantity was twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore. In 2018, Tangaraju was sentenced to death and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision.&nbsp;

<h2>Activists to push for Singapore to abolish death penalty</h2>

Activists said they will keep making efforts to push for Singapore to abrogate capital punishment as it has not proven any deterrent effect on crime.

"The call to the Singapore government (to scrap the death penalty) has been loud and clear globally, and we will repeat the call: Singapore has to halt the executions," Amnesty International's executive director for Malaysia Katrina Jorene Maliamauv told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

"They have to commute all existing death sentences."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Singapore on Wednesday hanged a man for trafficking drugs, said the authorities, marking its second execution in three weeks. The alleged accused was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 1.

Singapore on Wednesday hanged a man for trafficking drugs, said the authorities, marking its second execution in three weeks. The alleged accused was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) of cannabis, Kokila Annamalai of local rights group Transformative Justice Collective told news agency AFP. Singapore has one of the toughest anti-narcotics laws and as per the law, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis can result in the death penalty. "A 36-year-old Singaporean man had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex," a spokesman for the city-state's prison service told AFP. Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) released a statement saying that it would not reveal the name of the man in order to respect his family's wish for privacy. "The person was accorded full due process under the law, and had access to legal counsel throughout the process," CNB added. "A last-ditch appeal to review the case and stay his execution was dismissed on Tuesday", Annamalai said. Despite growing calls for the city-state to abolish the death penalty and halt drug-related executions, Singapore presses that it is an effective impediment against trafficking. Singapore executes Indian-origin man for conspiring to traffic cannabis Earlier, on April 26, Singapore executed an Indian-origin man, who was convicted of conspiring to traffic one kilogramme of cannabis. The decision to hang him was taken despite pleas for clemency from his family, activists and also the United Nations. A spokesman for the Singapore Prison Service told the news agency AFP that the "Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, had his capital sentence carried out today at Changi Prison Complex." Reuters reported that Kokila Annamalai, who is a Singapore-based rights activist representing the family, confirmed that Suppiah had been executed by hanging. It also mentioned that the president had rejected pleas for clemency on the eve of the execution. The United Nations Human Rights Office for Singapore had urged the authorities to "urgently reconsider" the decision of hanging, and British tycoon Richard Branson also asked to halt it. Branson, who is a member of the Geneva-based Global Commission on Drug Policy, wrote a blog earlier this week about Tangaraju. He mentioned that the Singaporean man was "not anywhere near" the drugs at the time of his arrest and that Singapore may be about to put an innocent man to death. He was convicted in 2017 of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9 grammes of cannabis. The quantity was twice the minimum volume required for a death sentence in Singapore. In 2018, Tangaraju was sentenced to death and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision. Activists to push for Singapore to abolish death penalty Activists said they will keep making efforts to push for Singapore to abrogate capital punishment as it has not proven any deterrent effect on crime. "The call to the Singapore government (to scrap the death penalty) has been loud and clear globally, and we will repeat the call: Singapore has to halt the executions," Amnesty International's executive director for Malaysia Katrina Jorene Maliamauv told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. "They have to commute all existing death sentences." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Singapore executes second citizen in three weeks for trafficking drugs

In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report.

Ever since the hardline Islamist regime took over Afghanistan in 2021, it has asked fighters, judges and leaders to implement the stringent Sharia law as per their interpretation, a pattern which they have followed from the early days of their previous rule in the 1990s.

And in reaction to the report of the UN, which called the methods of the Taliban “archaic corporal punishment”, the militant group stated that it is obliged to follow Islamic law's strict interpretation.

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UN report on corporal punishment and death penalty released today: 
274 men, 58 women and two boys publicly flogged in last six months in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>. 
Read full report: <a href="https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx">https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx</a> 
1/3 <a href="https://t.co/eDrZ395pZ8">pic.twitter.com/eDrZ395pZ8</a>
— UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews/status/1655430606124138498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As per the report, 274 men, 58 women and two boys have been publicly flogged by the Taliban leaders in the last six months in at least 43 instances.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-school-taliban-on-culture-leadership-and-economics-572083">India to give crash course to Taliban on culture, leadership and economics</a>

The report appealed to the interim regime to halt such practices.

“In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law,” said the Taliban foreign ministry in response to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's (UNAMA) detailed report released on Monday.

The majority of people were punished after they were convicted of adultery and “running away from home,” said the report, while some were also flogged for other crimes like theft, homosexuality, consuming alcohol, fraud and drug trafficking.

In its report, the UNAMA pointed to a statement given by a Taliban official who stated that “cutting off of hands is very necessary for security” for its “deterrent effect, but that the cabinet was still assessing whether punishments would be conducted in public”.

Under the incumbent Taliban regime, the first corporal punishment was recorded on October 20, 2021, when the de facto district court convicted a man and woman of adultery and both of them were publicly lashed 100 times each.

WATCH | UN threatens to pull out of Afghanistan after Taliban bans women from working for UN | WION

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UNAMA human rights chief Fiona Frazer, decrying the violations, said, “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease. The UN is strongly opposed to the death penalty and encourages the DFA to establish an immediate moratorium on executions”.

Frazer, in his comments, was referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.

Separately, the UN agency had documented at least 182 instances the sentences were given directly by the Taliban during the height of insurgency between 2010 and August 2021, which led to 213 deaths and 64 injuries.

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In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report.

In the last six months, the Taliban have carried out hundreds of flogging incidents, stonings and public executions in Afghanistan, which has been slammed by the United Nations (UN) in its latest report. Ever since the hardline Islamist regime took over Afghanistan in 2021, it has asked fighters, judges and leaders to implement the stringent Sharia law as per their interpretation, a pattern which they have followed from the early days of their previous rule in the 1990s. And in reaction to the report of the UN, which called the methods of the Taliban “archaic corporal punishment”, the militant group stated that it is obliged to follow Islamic law's strict interpretation. UN report on corporal punishment and death penalty released today: 274 men, 58 women and two boys publicly flogged in last six months in #Afghanistan. Read full report: https://t.co/hUvWzrn0lx 1/3 pic.twitter.com/eDrZ395pZ8 — UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) May 8, 2023 × As per the report, 274 men, 58 women and two boys have been publicly flogged by the Taliban leaders in the last six months in at least 43 instances. ALSO READ | India to give crash course to Taliban on culture, leadership and economics The report appealed to the interim regime to halt such practices. “In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law,” said the Taliban foreign ministry in response to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's (UNAMA) detailed report released on Monday. The majority of people were punished after they were convicted of adultery and “running away from home,” said the report, while some were also flogged for other crimes like theft, homosexuality, consuming alcohol, fraud and drug trafficking. In its report, the UNAMA pointed to a statement given by a Taliban official who stated that “cutting off of hands is very necessary for security” for its “deterrent effect, but that the cabinet was still assessing whether punishments would be conducted in public”. Under the incumbent Taliban regime, the first corporal punishment was recorded on October 20, 2021, when the de facto district court convicted a man and woman of adultery and both of them were publicly lashed 100 times each. WATCH | UN threatens to pull out of Afghanistan after Taliban bans women from working for UN | WION UNAMA human rights chief Fiona Frazer, decrying the violations, said, “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease. The UN is strongly opposed to the death penalty and encourages the DFA to establish an immediate moratorium on executions”. Frazer, in his comments, was referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. Separately, the UN agency had documented at least 182 instances the sentences were given directly by the Taliban during the height of insurgency between 2010 and August 2021, which led to 213 deaths and 64 injuries. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Taliban pledge to continue executions, public floggings as UN raises alarm

Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth.

Little signed House Bill 186, which permits firing squad to carry out executions in Idaho in the event state is unable to get lethal injections by pharmaceutical companies. Many US states have had trouble finding the chemicals needed for lethal injection, which has forced them to halt executions.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/walmart-lays-off-hundreds-of-us-employees-gives-them-90-days-to-find-job-at-its-other-facilities-575868">Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities</a>

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the practice of executing inmates who have been convicted of certain crimes. The method of execution varies by country and jurisdiction. They commonly includes lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, or firing squad.

Many US States have long relied on medicines like potassium chloride, pancuronium bromide, and sodium thiopental that have been criticised for their potential to inflict agonising pain. This comes as many pharmaceutical companies have banned lethal injections. It has raised fears of alternative execution methods in the United States.&nbsp;

“The families of the victims deserve justice for their loved ones and the death penalty is a way to bring them peace,” Little said in a transmittal letter.&nbsp;

Once taken effect, Idaho will become the fifth US state carrying out executions by firing squad. The other four states, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, are Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

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Many Human rights groups have supported these companies but now the states are coming up with alternatives, executions by firing squads being one of them. This along with Senate Bill 1100 on restricting trangenders use of restrooms, both will take effect on 1 July.&nbsp;

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“Requiring students to share restrooms and changing facilities with members of the opposite biological sex generates potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury to students,” the bill states.

According to the bill, students may sue their schools if they permitted individuals of the opposite sex to use facilities that were designated for only one sex.&nbsp;In addition to receiving monetary damages from schools for psychological or physical harm, students who are successful in their private lawsuits will receive $5,000 from the public school systems for each occasion they saw "a person of the opposite sex" in those gendered facilities.&nbsp;

Sen. Rick Just, a Democrat from the state, told CNN on Saturday that he had voted against the measure mostly because it permits anyone to bring private lawsuits against school systems.&nbsp;

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Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth.

Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth. Little signed House Bill 186, which permits firing squad to carry out executions in Idaho in the event state is unable to get lethal injections by pharmaceutical companies. Many US states have had trouble finding the chemicals needed for lethal injection, which has forced them to halt executions. Also Read | Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the practice of executing inmates who have been convicted of certain crimes. The method of execution varies by country and jurisdiction. They commonly includes lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, or firing squad. Many US States have long relied on medicines like potassium chloride, pancuronium bromide, and sodium thiopental that have been criticised for their potential to inflict agonising pain. This comes as many pharmaceutical companies have banned lethal injections. It has raised fears of alternative execution methods in the United States. “The families of the victims deserve justice for their loved ones and the death penalty is a way to bring them peace,” Little said in a transmittal letter. Once taken effect, Idaho will become the fifth US state carrying out executions by firing squad. The other four states, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, are Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Also Read | Verified Twitter account without Blue checkmark? Musk's platform steps up to avoid shame, trolling Many Human rights groups have supported these companies but now the states are coming up with alternatives, executions by firing squads being one of them. This along with Senate Bill 1100 on restricting trangenders use of restrooms, both will take effect on 1 July. Watch | Twitter CEO Elon Musk to give stocks to employees at $20 dollar valuation × “Requiring students to share restrooms and changing facilities with members of the opposite biological sex generates potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury to students,” the bill states. According to the bill, students may sue their schools if they permitted individuals of the opposite sex to use facilities that were designated for only one sex. In addition to receiving monetary damages from schools for psychological or physical harm, students who are successful in their private lawsuits will receive $5,000 from the public school systems for each occasion they saw "a person of the opposite sex" in those gendered facilities. Sen. Rick Just, a Democrat from the state, told CNN on Saturday that he had voted against the measure mostly because it permits anyone to bring private lawsuits against school systems. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Executions by firing squad, restricting transgender students’ bathroom use: Idaho Gov signs multiple bills

According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun. This comes after reports emerged of protests in several Iranian cities on Thursday.&nbsp;

“Legal proceedings have been launched against a woman who disrespected her headscarf during the election for the Tehran branch of the Iran Construction Engineering Organisation,” said the Tasnim news agency. The report added, “It was falsely claimed that this individual was disqualified (from the branch election) for not wearing the headscarf.”

A short video of the incident was also published by the Tehran municipality newspaper Hamshahri which showed the woman throwing her hijab on the ground as the participants left the meeting, reported AFP.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-executes-second-protester-in-less-than-a-week-rights-group-claim-450-killed-in-protests-542169">Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests</a>

Iran witnessed nationwide protests last year, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died after she was detained by authorities for her alleged breach of the dress code. The requirement for women to wear a headscarf or hijab has been enshrined in Iranian law since the Islamic revolution of 1979.&nbsp;

However, the recent long wave of unrest has now posed the biggest challenges to the Iranian regime as women were seen openly defying the hijab law, burning their headscarves and even cutting their hair during these protests. The recent demonstrations seen on multiple social media videos and took place overnight, on Thursday, were 40 days after the execution of two protesters <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-executes-2-more-men-detained-amid-nationwide-protests-550255">last month</a> and two others in December, reported Reuters.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/iran-finds-new-methods-to-enforce-hijab-law-calls-it-a-legal-issue-reports-550523">Iran finds new methods to enforce Hijab law, terms it part of religious values: Reports</a>

While it seemed like the protests had tapered off which could be attributed to the country’s execution of demonstrators and a wider crackdown on acts of civil disobedience but reports emerging on Thursday indicate otherwise.

Last month, Iran’s judiciary said that they wanted to resume implementing and enforcing their hijab rules, the violation of which led to penalties including exile. Additionally, in the past couple of weeks several cafes, restaurants and pharmacies have been shut down by Iranian authorities for serving customers who were not wearing a hijab.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun.

According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun. This comes after reports emerged of protests in several Iranian cities on Thursday. “Legal proceedings have been launched against a woman who disrespected her headscarf during the election for the Tehran branch of the Iran Construction Engineering Organisation,” said the Tasnim news agency. The report added, “It was falsely claimed that this individual was disqualified (from the branch election) for not wearing the headscarf.” A short video of the incident was also published by the Tehran municipality newspaper Hamshahri which showed the woman throwing her hijab on the ground as the participants left the meeting, reported AFP. ALSO READ | Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests Iran witnessed nationwide protests last year, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died after she was detained by authorities for her alleged breach of the dress code. The requirement for women to wear a headscarf or hijab has been enshrined in Iranian law since the Islamic revolution of 1979. However, the recent long wave of unrest has now posed the biggest challenges to the Iranian regime as women were seen openly defying the hijab law, burning their headscarves and even cutting their hair during these protests. The recent demonstrations seen on multiple social media videos and took place overnight, on Thursday, were 40 days after the execution of two protesters last month and two others in December, reported Reuters. ALSO READ | Iran finds new methods to enforce Hijab law, terms it part of religious values: Reports While it seemed like the protests had tapered off which could be attributed to the country’s execution of demonstrators and a wider crackdown on acts of civil disobedience but reports emerging on Thursday indicate otherwise. Last month, Iran’s judiciary said that they wanted to resume implementing and enforcing their hijab rules, the violation of which led to penalties including exile. Additionally, in the past couple of weeks several cafes, restaurants and pharmacies have been shut down by Iranian authorities for serving customers who were not wearing a hijab. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran to prosecute woman who allegedly ‘disrespected’ her headscarf: Reports

As part of its latest executions, the government authorities in Iran hanged two murder convicts in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan province, said the judiciary on Monday.

Elias Raisi was found guilty of committing murder over to a family dispute in 2020, and Ayoub Rigi had killed the victim over a “personal difference” using a military weapon, stated the judiciary's Mizan Online news website.&nbsp;

The convicts were hanged on Saturday after the families of victims did not grant them clemency under Islamic law, said Mehdi Shamsabadi, chief prosecutor in the provincial capital Zahedan.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/as-irans-anti-hijab-protests-cross-the-100-days-mark-lets-take-a-look-at-some-of-the-key-moments-546653">As Iran's anti-hijab protests cross the 100 days mark, let's take a look at some of the key moments</a>

The executions were held two days after the judiciary announced the hanging of three people guilty of armed robbery and rape in Shiraz, the southern city of Iran.&nbsp;

Earlier in December, the judiciary sentenced to death two men held in connection with protests being held against the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman who died in police custody on September 16 after she was arrested by the morality police for failing to abide by the Islamic dress code for women.&nbsp;

23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard was publicly hanged on December 12 after he was sentenced by a court in Mashhad for murdering two security forces members using a knife.

WATCH| Iran: Mahsa Amini protests rage on, government cornered in range of issues

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Four days before that, another 23-year-old, Mohsen Shekari, was hanged after he wounded a member of the security forces.&nbsp;

So far, 11 people have been given the death penalty by the judiciary after they were arrested in the protests, out of which two have been hanged and the two have been permitted retrials.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As part of its latest executions, the government authorities in Iran hanged two murder convicts in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan province, said the judiciary on Monday.

As part of its latest executions, the government authorities in Iran hanged two murder convicts in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan province, said the judiciary on Monday. Elias Raisi was found guilty of committing murder over to a family dispute in 2020, and Ayoub Rigi had killed the victim over a “personal difference” using a military weapon, stated the judiciary's Mizan Online news website. The convicts were hanged on Saturday after the families of victims did not grant them clemency under Islamic law, said Mehdi Shamsabadi, chief prosecutor in the provincial capital Zahedan. ALSO READ| As Iran's anti-hijab protests cross the 100 days mark, let's take a look at some of the key moments The executions were held two days after the judiciary announced the hanging of three people guilty of armed robbery and rape in Shiraz, the southern city of Iran. Earlier in December, the judiciary sentenced to death two men held in connection with protests being held against the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman who died in police custody on September 16 after she was arrested by the morality police for failing to abide by the Islamic dress code for women. 23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard was publicly hanged on December 12 after he was sentenced by a court in Mashhad for murdering two security forces members using a knife. WATCH| Iran: Mahsa Amini protests rage on, government cornered in range of issues Four days before that, another 23-year-old, Mohsen Shekari, was hanged after he wounded a member of the security forces. So far, 11 people have been given the death penalty by the judiciary after they were arrested in the protests, out of which two have been hanged and the two have been permitted retrials. (With inputs from agencies)

Two murder convicts hanged in Iran as part of latest executions

A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled. The data has left a lot of capital punishment researchers stunned as they went on to call 2022 “the year of botched executions”.

How 2022 turned into a 'year of botched executions' for the United States

A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled. The data has left a lot of capital punishment researchers stunned as they went on to call 2022 “the year of botched executions”.&nbsp;

The researchers stated that out of the 20 execution attempts in 2022, seven were “visibly problematic” with two getting completely abandoned. The study, which was hailed by experts as one of the most comprehensive annual examinations of the death penalty, also pointed out that the number of executions has been rapidly declining since the 1990s and it is almost half of that in the 2000s.&nbsp;

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The data is also impacted by the fact that 37 states in the US have already abolished the practice.&nbsp;

“As support for the death penalty has declined, we’ve been seeing more and more extreme conduct by the states that want to carry it out,” said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center according to a report on the New York Times. “And it’s been manifest in recklessness.”&nbsp;

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A closer look at the distribution of the executions shows that Texas and Oklahoma carried out five each, Arizona had three cases while Alabama had two. Oklahoma actually dominated headlines after 25 people were handed capital punishment within a span of just 29 months.&nbsp;

While politicians and the authorities have blamed the late appeals filed by the defence and the time limit given on the death warrant as reasons for the botched executions, the report added that the difficulty to find the lethal injection drugs has contributed massively towards the failed attempts.&nbsp;

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A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled.

A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled. The data has left a lot of capital punishment researchers stunned as they went on to call 2022 “the year of botched executions”. The researchers stated that out of the 20 execution attempts in 2022, seven were “visibly problematic” with two getting completely abandoned. The study, which was hailed by experts as one of the most comprehensive annual examinations of the death penalty, also pointed out that the number of executions has been rapidly declining since the 1990s and it is almost half of that in the 2000s. Also read | PM Modi holds phone conversation with Putin, reviews energy, defence ties The data is also impacted by the fact that 37 states in the US have already abolished the practice. “As support for the death penalty has declined, we’ve been seeing more and more extreme conduct by the states that want to carry it out,” said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center according to a report on the New York Times. “And it’s been manifest in recklessness.” Also read | 16 dead, 17 missing following landslide at campsite near Kuala Lumpur A closer look at the distribution of the executions shows that Texas and Oklahoma carried out five each, Arizona had three cases while Alabama had two. Oklahoma actually dominated headlines after 25 people were handed capital punishment within a span of just 29 months. While politicians and the authorities have blamed the late appeals filed by the defence and the time limit given on the death warrant as reasons for the botched executions, the report added that the difficulty to find the lethal injection drugs has contributed massively towards the failed attempts.

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are holding a meeting in Cambodia to discuss the growing crisis in Myanmar. Current ASEAN chair Cambodia on Wednesday warned Myanmar not to execute any more prisoners, after the hanging of four people.

ASEAN member nations discuss Myanmar crisis, warns against more executions

A Norway-based NGO Iran human rights said in its report that from January 1st to June 30th this year, 251 people were hanged in Iran as compared with 117 in the first half of 2021. UN has raise its concern over executions in Iran.

Rate of execution increases in Iran: Execution carried out to instill fear?

Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the country over same-day executions. The prisoners are demanding a change in the process where prisoners are notified only hours before the death penalty is carried out. Also, they are seeking compensation for the impact of the "inhumane" practice.

The Rights groups have been criticising the practice for a long time as they say that it affects the mental health of prisoners.

It started when two prisoners sentenced to death filed a suit in a district court in Osaka. The prisoners claim that the was illegal because it did not allow prisoners time to file an objection. They demanded that the practice should be changed and asked for 22 million yen in compensation.&nbsp;

Lawyer Yutaka Ueda said, "Death row prisoners live in fear every morning that that day will be their last. It's extremely inhumane."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/co2-emissions-of-richest-1-now-30-times-more-than-permissible-limits-426902">Also read |&nbsp;CO2 emissions of richest 1% now 30 times more than permissible limits</a>

"Japan is really behind the international community on this."

In Japan, Capital punishment is conducted by hanging. The practice of not informing inmates of the timing before execution has been decried by international human rights organisations.&nbsp;

Lawyer Ueda has argued that no law mandates that prisoners can only be told of their execution hours before it takes place.&nbsp;

"The central government has said this is meant to keep prisoners from suffering before their execution, but that's no explanation and a big problem, and we really need to see how they respond to the suit," he added.

"Overseas, prisoners are given time to contemplate the end of their lives and mentally prepare. It's as if Japan is trying as hard as possible not to let anybody know."

Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the country over same-day executions. The prisoners are demanding a change in the process where prisoners are notified only hours before the death penalty is carried out.

Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the country over same-day executions. The prisoners are demanding a change in the process where prisoners are notified only hours before the death penalty is carried out. Also, they are seeking compensation for the impact of the "inhumane" practice. The Rights groups have been criticising the practice for a long time as they say that it affects the mental health of prisoners. It started when two prisoners sentenced to death filed a suit in a district court in Osaka. The prisoners claim that the was illegal because it did not allow prisoners time to file an objection. They demanded that the practice should be changed and asked for 22 million yen in compensation. Lawyer Yutaka Ueda said, "Death row prisoners live in fear every morning that that day will be their last. It's extremely inhumane." Also read | CO2 emissions of richest 1% now 30 times more than permissible limits "Japan is really behind the international community on this." In Japan, Capital punishment is conducted by hanging. The practice of not informing inmates of the timing before execution has been decried by international human rights organisations. Lawyer Ueda has argued that no law mandates that prisoners can only be told of their execution hours before it takes place. "The central government has said this is meant to keep prisoners from suffering before their execution, but that's no explanation and a big problem, and we really need to see how they respond to the suit," he added. "Overseas, prisoners are given time to contemplate the end of their lives and mentally prepare. It's as if Japan is trying as hard as possible not to let anybody know."

'Extremely inhumane': Japanese death row inmates sue over same day executions

If reports are to be believed, serious violations have been committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The violations, include executions of civilians and restrictions on women and on protests against its rule. &nbsp;

On Tuesday, Michelle Bachelet, the top UN human rights official, said that she had received credible reports of the violations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch | Reports: WHO says Kabul airport curbs blocking medical supplies for Afghans

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Bachelet has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is holding an emergency session at the request of Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to set up a mechanism to closely monitor Taliban actions. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Speaking before an emergency session on Afghanistan, the UN official said, "A fundamental red line will be the Taliban's treatment of women and girls.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-expected-to-decide-within-24-hours-on-afghan-evacuation-deadline-407926">Biden expected to decide within 24 hours on Afghan evacuation deadline</a> &nbsp;

She urged the Taliban to honour commitments to respect the rights of women and girls, and ethnic and religious minorities, and refrain from reprisals. She said, “The onus is now fully on the Taliban to translate these commitments into reality." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Bachelet told the council, "I strongly urge the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights, and to work to re-establish social cohesion and reconciliation, including through respect for the rights of all who have suffered during the decades of conflict." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If reports are to be believed, serious violations have been committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The violations, include executions of civilians and restrictions on women and on protests against its rule.

If reports are to be believed, serious violations have been committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The violations, include executions of civilians and restrictions on women and on protests against its rule. On Tuesday, Michelle Bachelet, the top UN human rights official, said that she had received credible reports of the violations. Watch | Reports: WHO says Kabul airport curbs blocking medical supplies for Afghans × Bachelet has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is holding an emergency session at the request of Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to set up a mechanism to closely monitor Taliban actions. Speaking before an emergency session on Afghanistan, the UN official said, "A fundamental red line will be the Taliban's treatment of women and girls.” Also Read: Biden expected to decide within 24 hours on Afghan evacuation deadline She urged the Taliban to honour commitments to respect the rights of women and girls, and ethnic and religious minorities, and refrain from reprisals. She said, “The onus is now fully on the Taliban to translate these commitments into reality." Bachelet told the council, "I strongly urge the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights, and to work to re-establish social cohesion and reconciliation, including through respect for the rights of all who have suffered during the decades of conflict." (With inputs from agencies)

Citing reports of executions, UN rights chief seeks mechanism to monitor Taliban actions

The United Nations Libya mission said it was alarmed by reports of &quot;brutal and outrageous summary executions&quot; in the eastern city of Benghazi on Wednesday after pictures emerged appearing to show at least nine people were shot dead at the site of a twin car bombing.

The UN&nbsp;Libya mission, UNSMIL, suggested in a tweet that the gunman was Mahmoud al-Werfalli, a special forces commander wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly carrying out a number of similar killings.

&quot;(The UN) demands the handing over of Mahmoud al-Werfalli immediately to (the ICC) as it documented at least 5 similar cases, in 2017 alone, carried out or ordered by al-Werfalli,&quot; UNSMIL said on its Twitter account.

&quot;Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law.&quot;

Reuters could not independently confirm the gunman&#39;s identity.

The photos, which were posted on social media and in local media, appear to show executions in front of Benghazi&#39;s Bayaat al-Radwan mosque, where a twin car bombing on Tuesday left at least 35 people dead.

One of the pictures shows a gunman dressed in military camouflage, pointing a weapon at the head of the first of a row of blindfolded men kneeling in blue jumpsuits in front of damaged mosque gates.

Another photo shows all but three of the people slumped forward on the road as the gunman makes his way along the line. It was unclear who the men were.

Al-Werfalli is from an elite unit attached to Khalifa Haftar&#39;s Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls Benghazi and battled Islamists and other opponents in the city until late last year.

After the ICC said it was seeking al-Werfalli&#39;s arrest in August, the LNA announced that it was investigating him and had detained him, though his whereabouts were unclear. The special forces dismissed the ICC warrant.

A spokesman for the LNA could not immediately be reached for comment on the pictures.

The pictures were posted as UN&nbsp;Libya envoy Ghassan Salame visited Benghazi on Wednesday, meeting Haftar at a military compound near the city and expressing condemnation of the car bombing.

Haftar, a divisive figure in Libya, has increasingly been courted by the international community as he has gained power on the ground. He is considered a likely candidate in elections that the U.N. has said it hopes can be organised by the end of 2018.

'Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law,' UN Libya mission

The United Nations Libya mission said it was alarmed by reports of "brutal and outrageous summary executions" in the eastern city of Benghazi on Wednesday after pictures emerged appearing to show at least nine people were shot dead at the site of a twin car bombing. The UN Libya mission, UNSMIL, suggested in a tweet that the gunman was Mahmoud al-Werfalli, a special forces commander wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly carrying out a number of similar killings. "(The UN) demands the handing over of Mahmoud al-Werfalli immediately to (the ICC) as it documented at least 5 similar cases, in 2017 alone, carried out or ordered by al-Werfalli," UNSMIL said on its Twitter account. "Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law." Reuters could not independently confirm the gunman's identity. The photos, which were posted on social media and in local media, appear to show executions in front of Benghazi's Bayaat al-Radwan mosque, where a twin car bombing on Tuesday left at least 35 people dead. One of the pictures shows a gunman dressed in military camouflage, pointing a weapon at the head of the first of a row of blindfolded men kneeling in blue jumpsuits in front of damaged mosque gates. Another photo shows all but three of the people slumped forward on the road as the gunman makes his way along the line. It was unclear who the men were. Al-Werfalli is from an elite unit attached to Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls Benghazi and battled Islamists and other opponents in the city until late last year. After the ICC said it was seeking al-Werfalli's arrest in August, the LNA announced that it was investigating him and had detained him, though his whereabouts were unclear. The special forces dismissed the ICC warrant. A spokesman for the LNA could not immediately be reached for comment on the pictures. The pictures were posted as UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame visited Benghazi on Wednesday, meeting Haftar at a military compound near the city and expressing condemnation of the car bombing. Haftar, a divisive figure in Libya, has increasingly been courted by the international community as he has gained power on the ground. He is considered a likely candidate in elections that the U.N. has said it hopes can be organised by the end of 2018.

UN alarmed at reports of summary executions in Libya's Benghazi

Egypt hanged 15 men convicted of attacks that killed security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, security sources said on Tuesday, in what appears to be the largest number of executions on a single day since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014.

The hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday, the sources said.

A military court issued the sentences and interior ministry officials carried out the executions simultaneously at Borj al-Arab and Wadi al-Natroun prisons, the sources said.

Most of the militants were from Sinai region and were accused of &quot;joining militant groups and taking part in carrying out, planning and assisting in killing a number of army and police personnel in Sinai,&quot; the sources said.

Islamic State&#39;s Sinai branch has waged attacks against security forces in a years-long insurgency in North Sinai, and in the past year expanded targets to include Christians and other civilians.

An attack on a mosque last month which killed more than 300 people, the deadliest in Egypt&#39;s modern history, was widely attributed to Islamic State, but the group did not claim responsibility for it.

In 2015, six people were executed for killing two soldiers during a raid in Qalyubiah province, north of Cairo.

The sources said the hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday

Egypt hanged 15 men convicted of attacks that killed security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, security sources said on Tuesday, in what appears to be the largest number of executions on a single day since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014. The hangings took place at two prisons in the north of the country early on Tuesday, the sources said. A military court issued the sentences and interior ministry officials carried out the executions simultaneously at Borj al-Arab and Wadi al-Natroun prisons, the sources said. Most of the militants were from Sinai region and were accused of "joining militant groups and taking part in carrying out, planning and assisting in killing a number of army and police personnel in Sinai," the sources said. Islamic State's Sinai branch has waged attacks against security forces in a years-long insurgency in North Sinai, and in the past year expanded targets to include Christians and other civilians. An attack on a mosque last month which killed more than 300 people, the deadliest in Egypt's modern history, was widely attributed to Islamic State, but the group did not claim responsibility for it. In 2015, six people were executed for killing two soldiers during a raid in Qalyubiah province, north of Cairo.

Egypt hangs 15 militants for killing security forces in Sinai: Security sources

Indonesia will hold a round of executions on July 29 which will include a Pakistani prisoner, a Pakistani embassy official said on Tuesday. 
 
Indonesian authorities are preparing to execute by firing squad at least three foreign prisoners, including citizens of Nigeria and Zimbabwe. They are among 16 prisoners who Indonesian officials have said are to be executed this year. 
 
Authorities have not given a breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are known to be among them. 
 
It is unsure how many convicts will be executed this week, but local media reported at least 14 had been moved to an isolation cell on the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, a routine practise ahead of executions. 
 
This will be the third time execution carried out under Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who has declared a &quot;drug emergency&quot; in the country, and vowed to show no mercy for drug traffickers. 
 
Last year, Indonesia executed 14 people, mostly foreign drug traffickers, prompting Australia and Brazil to briefly recall their ambassadors. 
 
Indonesia imposed a moratorium on executions for five years before resuming them in 2013. 
 
 
(Reuters)

No breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row have been given but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are among them

Indonesia will hold a round of executions on July 29 which will include a Pakistani prisoner, a Pakistani embassy official said on Tuesday. Indonesian authorities are preparing to execute by firing squad at least three foreign prisoners, including citizens of Nigeria and Zimbabwe. They are among 16 prisoners who Indonesian officials have said are to be executed this year. Authorities have not given a breakdown of the numbers of foreigners on death row but citizens of France, Britain and the Philippines are known to be among them. It is unsure how many convicts will be executed this week, but local media reported at least 14 had been moved to an isolation cell on the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, a routine practise ahead of executions. This will be the third time execution carried out under Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who has declared a "drug emergency" in the country, and vowed to show no mercy for drug traffickers. Last year, Indonesia executed 14 people, mostly foreign drug traffickers, prompting Australia and Brazil to briefly recall their ambassadors. Indonesia imposed a moratorium on executions for five years before resuming them in 2013. (Reuters)

Drug charge: Indonesia to execute Pakistani prisoner soon

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