Norway deplores execution of prisoners in Iran

“Norway deeply regrets the execution on 22 October of ten Iranian prisoners,” said State Secretary Gry Larsen.

The ten individuals who were executed had been convicted of drug-related offences, and Norway is concerned about the way in which the trial proceedings were conducted.

“Norway opposes the death penalty as a matter of principle. It is particularly worrying when the death penalty is imposed in countries where the rule of law is as weak as it is in Iran,” Ms Larsen said.

Norway’s ambassador to Iran raised the issue of Norway’s concern over the extensive use of the death penalty in Iran at a meeting with Iran’s deputy foreign minister on 22 October.

Norway is engaged in efforts to promote the abolition of the death penalty, both in multilateral forums and through active cooperation with human rights organisations and like-minded countries. The issue of the death penalty is raised at regular intervals with countries where it is used. We give special priority to individual cases where we know that there are plans to carry out the death penalty in a particularly inhumane way or to execute minors, pregnant women or persons who cannot be deemed criminally responsible. In such cases Norway considers the death penalty to be a violation of international law. It is also essential that requirements regarding legal safeguards are satisfied. Norway urges countries that have not yet done so to ratify international agreements that prohibit the use of the death penalty.