EU and UN criticized for funding Iran as executions rise

                   

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has come under criticism for giving aid to Iran which the highest rate executions per capita in the world.

The UNODC receives significant funding from the UK, France and the EU, among others.

The new wave of executions in Iran under Hassan Rouhani has raised alarm after the regime last week executed a man for 'heresy'.

Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at legal charity Reprieve, said: “These executions are a worrying reminder of the prevalence of capital punishment in Iran – huge numbers are executed every year for ‘crimes’ such as apostasy and adultery, while up to 80 per cent of death sentences are given for non-lethal drug offences. The UN and EU countries need to be unequivocal in their stance against the death penalty – and that includes ending the anti-narcotics funding that so often leads to executions.”