The following statement has been issued by a Federal Foreign Office spokesperson:

“At the instigation of Foreign Minister Westerwelle, the Iranian Ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office yesterday. The German Government wanted to inform the Iranian Government of its deep concern about the fate of Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and to call for his immediate release.

The Ambassador was reminded that Foreign Minister Westerwelle and the entire German Government saw the conviction and imprisonment of people because of their faith as incompatible with the fundamental principles of human rights and therefore as unacceptable. He was also told that Foreign Minister Westerwelle expected the trial against Youcef Nadarkhani to be stopped immediately and the pastor to be released at once.”