GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- It's unfortunate the Iranian government of Hassan Rouhani continues to use the death penalty for non-violent offenses, the United Nations said Friday.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, said at least 80 people have been executed in Iran this year and most of those were for drug-related offenses.
"We regret that the new government has not changed its approach to the death penalty and continues to impose capital punishment for a wide range of offenses," she said in a statement from Geneva, Switzerland.
Rouhani took office last year by running as a moderate when compared with his conservative rivals.
Shamdasani said her office was "especially concerned" by the January execution of two men on charges of "enmity against God" and corruption on earth.
The spokeswoman said at least 500 people were executed last year and 57 of them were conducted in public.
"We urge the government to immediately halt executions and to institute a moratorium," she said.
