EU and international coalition condemn executions of protesters in Iran

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the European Union and a coalition of countries issued a joint statement condemning the ongoing execution of protesters by the Islamic Republic of Iran. While initial reports cited 26 nations, the French Foreign Ministry later stated that the number of signatories, including France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Baltic and Nordic states, has reached 32. Led by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the coalition denounced the use of the death penalty to silence dissent and intimidate citizens exercising their fundamental rights.

The participating nations have demanded that the Iranian regime immediately cease all executions and release individuals currently held in arbitrary detention. The statement calls on Tehran to listen to the demands of its people for change and to take meaningful steps to ensure respect for human rights. The international action follows a recent increase in judicial executions within the country, which the signatories describe as a systematic attempt to punish activists and quell opposition movements.