Iran’s Ambassador called in

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today called in Iran’s Ambassador to Norway, Abdol Reza Faraji Rad, to request information about Jafar Kiani, who is reported to have been executed by stoning outside the city of Takestan on 5 July. Mr Kiani was sentenced to death for having an extramarital affair with Mokarrameh Ebrahimi.

Ambassador Faraji Rad** was received by State Secretary Liv Monica Stubholt. During their meeting, Ms Stubholt expressed Norway’s strong condemnation of the death penalty in general and of stoning as a method of execution in particular. She underlined that Norway holds Iran responsible for what happens to Mr Kiani, Ms Ebrahimi and their joint children. Ambassador Faraji Rad could neither confirm nor deny that the execution had taken place, but said he would look into the matter immediately.
 
The case of the couple from Takestan became known shortly before they were due to be stoned on 21 June. The couple’s children are currently in prison together with their mother. On 20 June, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called in Iran’s Ambassador to protest against the planned execution. 

In addition to the Kiani case, Ms Stubholt strongly deplored the recent prison sentences imposed on nine Iranian women human rights defenders, two of whom have also been condemned to flogging. Several of these women were involved in efforts to abolish stoning as a method of execution.