UN Rights Chief Volker Türk Says Iran Executed At Least 21, Detained Over 4,000

Iran’s UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Wednesday that Iran has executed at least 21 people and detained more than 4,000 since the start of the war involving the United States and Israel, with the figures released as the conflict began after strikes on February 28.

“UN says Iran has executed 21, arrested over 4,000 since war started April 29 (Reuters) - Iran has executed at least 21 people since the start of the war with the United States and Israel two months ago and has arrested more than 4,000 on national security-related charges, U”

Al-Monitor

Türk said the executions included “at least nine people” connected to protests in January, “10” for alleged membership in opposition groups, and “two” on espionage charges, according to multiple outlets citing OHCHR.

Al-Monitor

In a statement carried by UN News, Türk said, “I am appalled that – on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict – the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways.”

The same OHCHR figures were echoed by The Hill, which reported that Türk said the regime has executed “at least nine people” in connection with anti-government protests in January and “10” for alleged membership in opposition groups, plus “two on espionage charges.”

A separate report from AnewZ likewise said the UN released the figures on Wednesday (29 April) and that Türk was “appalled” that rights were being “stripped” during the conflict.

The UN’s warning also tied the crackdown to national security-related charges, with UN News stating that “more than 4,000 arrested on national security-related charges” had been recorded since late February.

Across the coverage, the core message was that even during wartime, Türk said rights protections must remain in place, including “protection against arbitrary detention” and “the right to a fair trial.”

The UN rights chief’s account placed the surge in executions and arrests within a specific sequence tied to the war’s start and the January unrest inside Iran.

Multiple reports said the war began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, with UN News describing the period as “since late February” and The Hindu saying the U.S.-Israeli strikes sparked the war in late February.

AnewZ

OHCHR’s breakdown, as repeated by outlets including Al-Monitor and UN News, separated the executions into categories: “at least nine people” connected to January protests, “10” for alleged membership in opposition groups, and “two” on espionage charges.

Al-Monitor, citing Reuters, said Türk told reporters that “at least nine people have been executed in connection with protests in January, 10 for alleged membership in opposition groups, and two on espionage charges.”

The Hill similarly described how the UN said the regime executed “at least nine people” tied to January protests and “10” for alleged opposition links, while also executing “two on espionage charges.”

The UN’s detention figure was also anchored to the same timeline, with UN News stating that “more than 4,000 arrested on national security-related charges” had occurred since late February.

AnewZ added that the UN said “more than 4,000 people had been detained on national security-related charges,” and it described many detainees as having been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, or other ill-treatment.

Türk’s UN statement did not only quantify executions and arrests; it also laid out specific demands aimed at halting the death penalty and restoring due process.

“United Nations: 21 people executed and 4,000 detained in Iran since the start of the war”

An-Nahar

UN News reported that Türk called on authorities to “halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”

The Hill carried the same language, quoting Türk’s call to “halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”

AnewZ likewise reproduced Türk’s urging that he “call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained,” and it added that he was “appalled” by the rights curtailment.

Rudaw.net described Türk’s remarks as “appalled” and said he censured Iranian authorities over the arrest of “some 4,000 people” and the ongoing internet shutdown, while still calling for the same halt and moratorium.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran also quoted Türk’s statement, including “I call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”

UN News said OHCHR warned that Iran’s “broad use of national security charges” had placed many individuals, “including children,” at risk.

Beyond executions and arrests, the UN rights chief’s warning described a broader crackdown that included severe restrictions on information and deteriorating detention conditions.

UN News said authorities imposed “one of the world’s longest internet shutdowns,” cutting off access “now for 61 days,” and it quoted Türk saying, “This is denying people across the country access to vital information, silencing independent voices, and inflicting enormous social and economic harm.”

Caspian Post

UN News added that the shutdown “must be lifted immediately,” and it described the impact as “exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian and economic situation.”

Rudaw.net similarly said the internet shutdown had entered its “61st day” and called for it to be “lifted immediately,” quoting Türk that the shutdown was “denying people across the country access to vital information, silencing independent voices, and inflicting enormous social and economic harm.”

The Center for Human Rights in Iran also criticized the internet shutdown, stating that “Access to the internet in Iran has now been almost entirely shut down for 61 days,” and it described the measure as one of the longest and most severe shutdowns.

In parallel, UN News said detainees faced harsh conditions including “overcrowding, shortages of basic supplies and limited access to medical care,” and it said the health of Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi was “reportedly deteriorating.”

The Center for Human Rights in Iran sharpened the prison picture by saying Türk warned that “Conditions of detention in Iran’s prisons are dire,” with detainees suffering from “severe overcrowding and acute shortages of food, water, hygiene supplies, medicine and are denied medical care.”

The UN rights chief’s statement also described lethal force against prisoners and highlighted risks for ethnic and religious minorities, with outlets repeating the same details while emphasizing different elements.

“On April 29, 2026, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türkcondemned Iran’s escalating crackdown on dissent, citing executions, mass arrests, and widespread human rights violations carried out under the pretext of national security”

Center for Human Rights in Iran

UN News said that the UN warned about “a surge in executions, mass arrests and alleged abuses,” and it included a specific incident in Chabahar, where it said security forces “killed at least five and injured 21” after confronting people protesting a “prolonged suspension of food distribution.”

Center for Human Rights in Iran

The Center for Human Rights in Iran similarly stated that “In Chabahar Prison, detainees who protested the prolonged suspension of food distribution were met with lethal violence,” and it repeated that “Security forces reportedly killed at least five and injured 21 after confronting protestors.”

Al-Monitor, again citing Reuters, reported the same Chabahar numbers, saying security forces reportedly killed “at least five people and injured 21” after confronting protestors.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran added that “Two additional detainees died in custody, in a different prison,” and it said there were “indications that they had been subjected to torture.”

Across the coverage, Türk also warned that “Individuals from ethnic and religious minorities, including Bahá’ís, Zoroastrians, Kurds, and Baluch Iranians, have been at particular risk,” a line repeated by Rudaw.net and the Center for Human Rights in Iran.

The Hill added a broader context by citing Amnesty International’s description of the January protests and saying the organization said Iranian authorities cut all internet access “to conceal their crimes,” while security forces “used unlawful force, firearms and other prohibited weapons” against protesters.