The United Nations human rights chief today called on authorities in Iran to halt the imminent execution of a juvenile offender, while also voicing concern about the excessive use of the death penalty in the country since the start of the year.

An independent United Nations human rights expert today strongly condemned last Monday’s execution of 21 people within one day in Iraq, including three women, which was followed two days later by the reported execution of five more people.

The United Nations human rights office today said it is deeply distressed by the recent execution in Saudi Arabia of 10 men, eight of whom were foreign migrant workers, and called on the country to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Three independent United Nations human rights experts have called on the United States Government to stop the execution scheduled for later today of Troy Davis, amid concerns that he did not receive a fair trial.