Iran: Execution of Dissidents and Opposition Activists

Lord McCabe Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord McCabe]

To ask His Majesty’s Government when the Foreign Secretary last had discussions with Iranian officials regarding the number of dissidents and opposition activists being executed by the Iranian regime.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Winterton of Doncaster) (Lab)]

My Lords, Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty, including against protesters and opposition activists, is abhorrent. We condemn these executions as a tool of political repression designed to instil fear and suppress dissent. We have consistently made this clear to Iran, including through UN resolutions and in statements with our like-minded partners. In September, we joined over 40 states to strongly condemn Iran’s use of the death penalty. Iran must immediately establish a moratorium on executions.

[Lord McCabe (Lab)]

Human Rights Watch reports at least 39 executions over the past eight months, including teenagers, many of them executed for waging war against God. They are often denied legal access and, where lawyers attempt to represent them, they frequently find themselves then arrested. Will the Government do all that they can to raise the plight of these lawyers representing desperate people and continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms these barbaric executions in Iran?

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

I congratulate my noble friend on raising this issue. It is important that this House speaks with one voice in saying how much we condemn the actions of Iran. We are certainly aware of reports that lawyers representing protesters are threatened with arrest, prosecution or loss of their licence, for representing protesters, as he said. Iran should cease reprisals against lawyers representing protesters. The UK is co-sponsoring the renewal of the Iran human rights resolution at the UN General Assembly Third Committee, and I will undertake to raise the issue of lawyers being threatened during our national statement.