EU's Ashton 'appalled' by Iran's execution of 10 men
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 October 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, EU's Ashton 'appalled' by Iran's execution of 10 men, 23 October 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/5090e599c.html [accessed 20 June 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 23, 2012
EU foreign policy and security chief Catherine Ashton (file photo)
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says she is "appalled" by the execution of 10 Iranians convicted of drug-trafficking offenses.
Ashton said the October 22 executions in a Tehran jail add "to the alarming execution rate in Iran" now at over 300 since the beginning of the year.
In a statement from Brussels, the EU's chief diplomat reiterated her call for Iran to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty.
Separately, a trio of UN human rights experts have also blasted Iran for executing the 10 men.
UN Special Rapporteurs Ahmed Shaheed, Christof Heyns, and Juan E Mendez said in New York late on October 22 that the crimes of the executed men "do not amount to the 'most serious crimes' as defined by international human rights law."
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and RFE/RL
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
