UN experts urge Iran to halt death sentences of 10 men

UN experts on Monday called on Iran to cancel the death penalties given to 10 young men over anti-government protests that rocked the country in January.

Twelve men, aged between their late teens and early twenties, were sentenced and two were executed on 19 July.

"Sentencing 12 people to death in one hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity as to each defendant's individual responsibility violates established fair trial standards," the experts said.

The 13 experts are special rapporteurs of the United Nations and members of working groups on forced disappearances and arbitrary detention.