Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement today (29 January) on the execution yesterday of two members of the opposition in Iran following show trials:

“I categorically condemn the execution of Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour by the Iranian justice system. This represents a further deterioration in the human rights situation in Iran, which we are following with great concern.

Iran must finally live up to its obligations to protect its citizens’ civil and political rights. We will continue to vigorously urge Iran to do so.”

The Federal Government has been campaigning to bring about the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

Iran has signed and ratified the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.