UN warns of rising Iranian executions alongside findings on Afghan femicides

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned of a marked increase in capital punishment in Iran, where at least 56 executions have occurred since mid-March. Türk noted that authorities use death sentences to "instill fear in the population and suppress dissent." Among recent cases is 24-year-old Marzieh Neyri, who was executed after attempting to defend herself against sexual harassment. Under Iranian law, establishing sexual assault requires testimony from four male witnesses, leaving female victims facing severe legal impediments.

Simultaneously, a new investigation into 231 femicides in Afghanistan reveals growing impunity for violence against women following the Taliban's 2023 decision to dissolve the attorney general's office, which previously compiled domestic abuse statistics.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)