Brussels, 06/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU high representative, Catherine Ashton, called on Iran on Thursday 5 January to halt the planned execution of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Christian, and Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, found guilty of adultery and planning to kill her husband. Ashton points out that “thousands of individuals remain at risk of execution” and calls on Iran “to halt pending executions and to introduce a moratorium.”
Ashton added in a press release: “I am deeply concerned at the number of executions in Iran in 2011. This goes against the worldwide trend towards the abolition of the death penalty. The number of executions in Iran last year is reportedly the highest in recent history, making Iran the world's leading user of the death penalty per inhabitant.” According to charity Amnesty International, more than 600 people were executed in Iran in 2011.
Ashton explained: “Hundreds of individuals were executed in 2011 after grossly unfair trials, without the right of appeal and for offences which according to international standards should not result in capital punishment. The EU recalls that in countries still retaining the death penalty, this sentence may be used only for the most serious crimes.” (CG/transl.fl)