IRANIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST SURGE IN EXECUTIONS

Iranian opposition leaders condemned the growing number of executions in Iran. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi expressed grave alarm over the "rushed execution of death penalties in the country without adherence to appropriate and legal procedures." These policies are "used to create fear and anxiety in society." "Close to 300 executions in the past year can also only lead to further isolation of Iran in the international community," the leaders said in a joint statement.