Geneva, Aug. 5 -- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has raised alarm over the rise in executions and death sentences in Iran since March, saying capital punishment is being used to "instill fear among the population and suppress dissent", as at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges since March 19 as per the official press release by the 'Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' (OHCHR).

According to the press release, Turk said, "I am alarmed by the rise in executions and death sentences issued in Iran since March, and that capital punishment continues to be used to instill fear among the population and suppress dissent. I urge the authorities to urgently halt all executions and m...