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Sanction Iranian Regime for Human Rights Abuses
(Wall Street Journal) Jared Genser and Sara Birkenthal - The world recently has played down criticism of Iran on human rights in hopes of securing a nuclear deal. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime has doubled down on its repression of domestic dissent. More than 1,500 executions have been carried out in Iran since Hassan Rouhani became president in August 2013. With 721 individuals executed in 2014 alone, Iran boasts the world's highest per capita execution rate. Regardless of the outcome of the nuclear negotiations, the U.S. should reaffirm its commitment to advancing human rights in Iran. That means making the removal of sanctions contingent on tangible improvements in Iran's human-rights situation. This would include releasing political prisoners and halting executions for political crimes or for which there was no due process of law. Let us not forget the broader aspirations of the Iranian people to be free. Genser is an associate of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. Birkenthal is a fellow of the National Endowment for Democracy's Penn Kemble Youth Forum on Democracy.