Belgian MPs unite to condemn Iran's rising executions

In Belgium, over 100 Members of Parliament have expressed grave concerns regarding the alarming number of executions in Iran, a trend that has significantly worsened under the recent presidential administration. This collective statement comes amid reports indicating that in August 2024 alone, more than 600 individuals, including numerous women, faced execution. The Iranian regime's use of executions as a means of instilling fear among the populace has attracted international scrutiny as prominent human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, highlight that Iran accounted for 74% of global executions in 2023. As part of an escalating international response, the Belgian MPs have rallied behind the “No to Executions” campaign, which advocates for a cessation of daily executions and arbitrary death sentences. This initiative echoes the opinions of various human rights groups and activists who argue that the Iranian government engages in systematic human rights abuses against its citizens, often punishing political dissent and public protests with swift, severe measures, including capital punishment. The statement by Belgian lawmakers also aligns with Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian opposition coalition, who has actively called for the abolition of the death penalty as part of her vision for a free and democratic Iran. This vision encompasses freedom of expression and equality for women and minorities, positioning itself against the current oppressive regime in Iran. Increasingly, individuals within Iran are protesting these human rights violations through hunger strikes, exemplifying the growing domestic dissent against the regime’s policies. The United Nations has also weighed in on the issue, with Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, condemning the government's actions as tantamount to crimes against humanity. The stark increase in executions since the new presidency points to a systematic approach by the Iranian regime to suppress any form of dissent, further enabling the climate of fear and repression that has long characterized the Iranian political landscape.