Strong protest against execution in Iran

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again called in Iran’s Ambassador to Norway, Abdol Reza Faraji Rad, to protest against the stoning of Jafar Kiani in Iran on 5 July. “I am shocked that the stoning has been carried out, and condemn execution by stoning in the strongest terms. It is a completely inhuman and barbaric means of punishment,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.

During the meeting with the Iranian Ambassador, it was emphasised that Norway is concerned that Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, the mother of the couple’s two children, will suffer the same fate. “Norway, together with other countries, urges the Iranian authorities most strongly to prevent the second stoning from being carried out,” underlined Mr Støre.

The Norwegian Embassy in Teheran has been instructed to try to arrange for representatives of the international community to visit Ms Ebrahimi in prison.

“This latest stoning is one of a series of human rights violations by Iran and is in breach of Iran’s commitments under key UN conventions,” said Mr Støre. He added that Norway would continue its efforts to support human rights defenders in Iran and would maintain focus on human rights violations in the country.

“I urge Iran to comply with its own moratorium on stoning, and to amend Iranian law as soon as possible to prohibit this practice,” said Mr Støre.