TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian authorities have executed two individuals convicted of participating in the killing of police officers during protests that erupted in January, according to reports by state-affiliated Fars News Agency.
The agency alleged that the two men took part in an attack at Shahid Alikhani Square in Isfahan on January 18, during which police officers were tied to a signpost, assaulted with stones, doused with gasoline and set ablaze.
According to the report, the officers were also dragged along the ground and attacked with knives and machetes while still alive.
The United Nations human rights office said at least 12 young men have been sentenced to death in connection with the deaths of four security personnel during the protests, with two executions already carried out on July 19.
The UN has called for an immediate halt to the executions, expressing concerns that the legal proceedings failed to meet international standards for fair trials.
Human rights officials say at least 24 people linked to the January protests have been executed this year.
Iranian authorities maintain that 3,117 people died during the unrest, while the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) claims it has documented more than 7,000 deaths and is investigating nearly 12,000 additional cases.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato, has suggested that the actual death toll could exceed 20,000 civilians, although independent verification remains difficult because of internet restrictions and limited access to information.
The latest executions are expected to intensify international scrutiny of Iran's handling of the protests and its use of capital punishment.
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