A/HRC/19/66 Number of executions (2003-2011) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 21. According to a number of sources, 81 per cent of all cases of capital punishment in 2011 were related to drug trafficking, while 4.3 per cent and 4.1 per cent were related to Moharebeh (enmity with God) and rape, respectively.13 The Special Rapporteur continues to emphasize that drug offences do not meet the “serious crime” standard set by international law, and renews his call on the Government to implement a moratorium on the death penalty, especially in drug-related cases, to seriously pursue efforts to abolish the death penalty for juveniles, and to commute all capital sentences against them. 22. A number of individuals have been sentenced to death in recent years by stoning, despite announcements of a moratorium on stoning as a form of capital punishment by the judiciary.14 In its report on the subject, Amnesty International stated that at least 15 men and women are currently facing death by stoning sentences for “adultery while married”. 15 The Special Rapporteur joins the Human Rights Committee in expressing its concern about the use of stoning as a method of execution,16 maintains that adultery does not constitute a serious crime by international standards; and strongly urges the Government to enforce its moratorium on stoning. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that stoning has now been omitted from the new Penal Code and hopes all existing cases will be reviewed to ensure that such penalties are not carried out. 13 14 15 16 8 Amnesty International, Addicted to Death: Executions for Drug Offences in Iran (London, Amnesty International, December 2011). Available from www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/090/2011/en/0564f064-e965-4fad-b0626de232a08162/mde130902011en.pdf. See “Iran suspends execution by stoning”, Telegraph, 5 August 2008 (available from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/2507499/Iran-suspends-execution-bystoning.html); and Amnesty International, “Iran: announcement of suspension of stoning a welcome step If carried out”, 6 August 2008 (available from www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/pressreleases/iran-announcement-suspension-stoning-welcome-step-if-carried-out-2008080). Amnesty International, Iran: Executions by Stoning (London, Amnesty International, December 2010). Available from www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/095/2010. CCPR/C/IRN/CO/3, para. 12.