A/HRC/31/26 execution rate and called on the Government to institute a moratorium on executions. 3 In their comments on the present report, the government authorities continued to argue that owing to threats linked to the production of narcotics in the region, it was necessary to apply the death penalty as a deterrent, especially for drug-related crimes. They also argued that individuals found guilty in court proceedings were afforded due process guarantees, including access to defence counsel. 7. The Secretary-General notes the initiative by parliamentarians to replace executions for drug-related crimes with imprisonment. On 8 December 2015, a parliamentarian announced that a proposal to amend the anti-narcotics law, which provides a mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences, had been presented to the parliament. The proposal reportedly seeks to eliminate the death penalty for drug-related offences, except for armed drug smuggling.4 The current anti-narcotics law provides for the death penalty for a myriad of lesser drug-related offenses, including the possession of more than 30 grams of methamphetamines (ibid.). 8. Executions for drug-related offences, which amount to a violation of international law, account for over 70 per cent of all executions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. These executions are often carried out after trials that do not meet international fair trial standards. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for any but the most serious crimes. The Human Rights Committee has repeatedly stressed that drug-related offences do not meet the threshold of the most serious crimes, unless they involve intentional killing. 5 The Secretary-General, noting that execution has not deterred this type of crime, encourages the Government to seek alternative solutions, including abolishing the mandatory death penalty for drug-related crimes. 9. A large number of foreign nationals are reportedly on death row for drug-related crimes. Afghan nationals are reportedly the most affected, with at least 1,200 persons on death row as of August 2015 (see A/70/304, para. 77). Of the 17 foreign nationals reportedly executed in 2015, 16 were Afghans. Foreign nationals are particularly vulnerable, as they often do not speak the language in which the legal proceedings are held, are unfamiliar with the laws under which they are charged, have inadequate access to legal assistance and support, and are often forced to sign confessions. 6 For instance, Kelven Ozube Agbai, a Nigerian national, has been detained in Evin prison since March 2013. He was reportedly arrested at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran for possession of drugs. On 29 August 2013, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death. While in custody, Mr. Agbai was reportedly pressured to sign documents that had not been translated from the original Persian. Furthermore, he reportedly did not have access to an interpreter or legal assistance during the investigation and the trial. 10. In 2015, at least eight political prisoners were executed for charges such as moharebeh (taking up arms for terrorism and disruption of public safety) and several others were sentenced to the death penalty on politically motivated charges. On 4 March 2015, six individuals, including Hamed Ahmadi, Kamal Malaee, Jahangir Dehghani and Jamshed 3 4 5 6 On 14 September 2015, in his opening statement to the Human Rights Council at its thirtieth session, the High Commissioner expressed concern at the accelerated use of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran. On 19 October, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General reaffirmed the opposition of the United Nations to the death penalty and called on the Government to abolish the practice altogether. See www.isna.ir/fa/news/94091710313/ (in Persian). See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16581&LangID=E. In their comments on the present report, the authorities stated that foreigners were systematically afforded translation and defence counsel facilities. 3