Published on Apr 20, 2016
Executing
drug offenders is morally unacceptable, against international law and
doesn’t solve the problem. Iranian drug policies are a case in point.
The #UN has clearly stated that drug crimes do not constitute the “most
serious crimes” for which the death penalty is narrowly permissible, yet
Iran continues to execute thousands. About 70% of the 1,050 #executions
ABF reported in Iran in 2015 were for drug offenses and these sentences
were frequently passed after unfair and arbitrary trials. In spite of
these harsh measures, the drug problem continues, with addiction rates
increasing at 8% a year.
The United Nations General Assembly
Special Session (UNGASS) is now meeting to review international drug
control systems and assess priorities. To coincide with this meeting
#ABF and Impact Iran have released a video on the problem of executions
for drug crimes. “The UN and its member states must use #UNGASS as an
opportunity to strongly urge Iran and others to abandon the use of
capital punishment for drug offenses,” said ABF Executive Director Roya
Boroumand. “Nothing has been more counterproductive than a global drug
policy that violates #Human_Rights.”
