[ad_1]
Because the German government criticized the execution of Iranian government critic Ruhollah Zam, Tehran summoned the German ambassador. Iran’s Foreign Ministry wanted to protest against Germany’s interference in the country’s internal affairs, state news agency IRNA reported. In the same context, the French ambassador should also be summoned.
For the Iranian government, the judiciary is independent and, consequently, foreign criticism of its decisions is not legitimate, he said. The European Union, whose presidency is currently Germany, and France harshly criticized Saturday’s execution.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin stated that the German government rejects the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman form of punishment in all circumstances: »We call on Iran to respect the right to freedom of expression of its citizens, to release all political prisoners and neither impose nor carry out more death sentences. “
A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the execution as a “serious attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press.” It is a “barbaric and unacceptable act.” Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders also condemned Zam’s death penalty.
Zam was sentenced to death in Tehran in June and executed on Saturday. The 47-year-old was accused of propaganda against the Iranian leadership with his website and inciting people to protest, some of which were violent.
The former journalist in particular condemned the alleged electoral fraud in the 2009 presidential elections and the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He then fled to France via Malaysia, where he was granted political asylum. From exile, the son of an Iranian cleric ran the anti-government channel “Amadnews” for a long time with more than a million followers. He also gave interviews to Persian-speaking broadcasters abroad on several occasions in which he harshly criticized the Iranian leadership.
Iran holds numerous human rights activists and critics captive, including foreigners
According to media reports, the blogger was lured to neighboring Iraq by Iranian security forces, arrested there last fall and taken to Iran.
The Iranian government is holding numerous human rights defenders and critics prisoner. At least a dozen North Americans, Europeans, Australians or dual citizens are also said to be in detention in the country. Death sentences are also repeatedly imposed. The government had fighter Navid Afkari executed in September, despite violent protests from outside.
