32 European and non-European countries have condemned the ongoing executions of protesters, demanding an immediate halt to the death penalty, the release of detainees, and an end to the use of executions to silence dissenting voices.
Iran Human Rights Society, Thursday, August 13, 2026 – The rising wave of executions and death sentences issued against protesters has met with widespread international backlash. In a joint statement, 32 European and non-European nations strongly condemned the
continued execution of protesters and called on the Iranian government to immediately stop utilizing the death penalty. Signatories to this statement emphasized that using execution to silence dissidents, instill fear in society, and punish individuals exercising their fundamental rights cannot be justified.
Condemnation of Protester Executions by 32 Nations
On Wednesday, August 12, member states of the European Union alongside several non-European countries issued a joint statement reacting to the ongoing issuance and execution of death sentences for protesters.
According to published information, the statement was initially released with the support of 26 European Union member states and Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, after which additional nations joined the stance. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that with the joining of six more countries, the total number of nations supporting this shared stance reached 32.
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom are among the non-EU countries that have joined this joint position.
Referring to the situation of protesters, the signatory nations condemned the ongoing executions and demanded an immediate end to this process.
“Execution Must Not Be a Tool to Silence Dissidents”
One of the primary focal points of the joint statement is the connection between the death penalty and the suppression of protests.
The signatories emphasized that using the death penalty to silence opponents, create fear in society, and penalize individuals seeking to exercise their fundamental rights has no justification.
This position comes amid widespread concerns that the issuance and implementation of death sentences against protesters and protest detainees serve as an instrument of repression.
Supporting nations also stressed that citizens must be able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of punishment, arrest, or security reprisals.
The statement calls on ruling authorities to listen to the people and take meaningful, concrete actions toward respecting human rights.
Demand for the Release of Detainees
The demand of the signatory countries was not limited to stopping executions.
They also demanded the release of individuals who have been arbitrarily detained. This request comes as a large number of citizens were arrested following the 2025 nationwide protests, with the cases of many detainees still moving through judicial stages.
Severe sentences, including the death penalty, have been issued in a number of these cases—heightening fears over the execution of new sentences.
For this reason, the joint stance of the 32 countries unites two distinct demands: an immediate halt to executions and the release of arbitrary detainees.
France: The Increase in Executions is Unbearable
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot took a firm stance regarding the continuation of executions.
Publishing details regarding the joint statement, he stated that months after the crackdown on people who took to the streets for justice and human dignity, the rise in executions continues unabated.
The French Foreign Minister described the situation as “unbearable and inhumane,” calling not only for an end to executions but also for accountability for perpetrators of repression and the release of political prisoners.
He further emphasized the right of the people to freely determine their future and the necessity of respecting their fundamental rights.
Broad International Front Against Executions
France, Canada, Albania, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are among the countries declared as supporters of this shared position.
The alignment of European and non-European countries with this statement demonstrates growing international concern regarding the expanded use of the death penalty, particularly in relation to protests and political cases.
The statement by 32 countries carries a clear message regarding the link between executions, protest crackdowns, and fundamental freedoms:
The death penalty must not be used to instill fear in society and silence opponents.
As the issuance of death sentences against a number of 2025 nationwide protest detainees continues, international demands to stop these executions have expanded in scope. The explicitly declared demand of these nations is an immediate halt to executions, the release of arbitrary detainees, and respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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