Ahmed Shaheed

Fundamental problems also exist with regard to the due process and fair trial rights of the accused, i continue to receive frequent and alarming reports about the use of prolonged solitary and incommunicado confinement, torture and ill-treatment, lack of access to lawyers and the use of confessions solicited under torture as evidence in trials - practices that clearly violate Iran's own laws.

A large percentage of those executions are for drug offences and under Iran's current drug laws, possession of 30 grams of heroine or cocaine would qualify for the death penalty. So there's a number of draconian laws.

The number of juvenile offenders executed between 2014 and 2015 - which is reportedly 16 - was higher than at any time during the past five years.

The government of Iran should not silence critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns.

Their response to my current report has been the most substantive over the past 4-1/2 years, but other developments in Iran over the past 12 months gives us pause on why we should not put too much weight on this because there have been rising executions.

The nuclear agreement reached this summer presents opportunities for advancing human rights in the country.