31/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Increase in number of executions - Catherine Ashton is “deeply concerned”. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton “remains deeply concerned by the alarming increase in the number of reported executions in Iran”, her spokesman said on Wednesday 30 May. “The EU calls upon Iran to commute all such death sentences”, he added, stating that thousands of individuals are at the risk of execution, even for acts which are not considered as among the most serious crimes according to international minimum standards. The EU calls on Iran, as on all other countries that practise the death penalty, to put an end to executions and to introduce a moratorium on capital punishment. Iran is one of the main users of the death penalty in the world. During the week of 14-20 May alone, 35 executions were confirmed by Iranian authorities. (CG/transl.jl)