In the past few years, the Islamic Republic’s leaders have shown a more moderate and open face to the world. The rate of executions, however, in particular for drug offenders, unseen in two decades, shows another face of Iranian decision makers, one of senseless brutality and contempt for citizens’ lives.
Refusing to acknowledge facts or hear the voices of reason, including of officials who call for a change of focus from punitive action to prevention and harm reduction, they have preferred so far to eliminate the symptom of the problem by attacking the weak and the poor.
On the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2016, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon called “on countries and communities to continue to improve the lives of everyone blighted by drug abuse by integrating security and public safety with a heightened focus on health, human rights, and sustainable development." This is an appropriate opportunity to open a window into Iran’s now 35 years old aggressive and punitive drug control policy, the human cost of which is simply too high to be ignored.
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