European Union Website
EUROPEA1 U1IO1 Brussels, 23 October 2012
A 470/12

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:
‘I am appalled by the execution on 22 October 2012 of 10 Iranian individuals on charges of drug offences. I am concerned about information that most of them did not receive a fair trial and were subjected to torture during their detention.
This event only adds to the alarming execution rate in Iran, which has surpassed 300 executions since the beginning of the year. Most of the executions took place after summary trials, without the right to appeal and for offences which according to international minimum standards should not result in capital punishment.
In line with the EU’s strong policy against this inhumane and cruel punishment, I call on Iran, once more, to halt pending executions and to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty.’