In a statement, Türk urged Iranian authorities to halt all executions and move toward the abolition of the death penalty, saying that "such punishment has no place in our world". As well as expressing alarm at the rise in executions, he said the persistent lack of fair trial and due process guarantees was "deeply troubling", with confessions allegedly obtained under torture and other ill-treatment. "Several executions have reportedly been carried out in public. "Twelve defendants were reportedly sentenced to death following a single three-hour closed-door hearing." But it has previously defended the use of the death penalty, saying it is limited to only "the most severe crimes".