EU summons Iranian envoy over 'condemnable' executions

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - The EU on Monday summoned the Iranian ambassador to the bloc to reiterate its “strong appalment” over the latest executions of protesters.

Iranian envoy Hossein Dehghani was summoned by European External Action Service (EEAS) Secretary-General Stefano Sannino, the EEAS said in a statement.

“Sannino reiterated EU’s call on the Iranian authorities to immediately stop the strongly condemnable practice of imposing and carrying out death sentences against protesters, to annul without delay the recent death penalty sentences that were already pronounced in the context of the ongoing protests and to provide due process to all detainees,” read the statement.

Iran hanged Mohammad Mahdi Karami, 22, and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, 39, on Saturday.

They were accused of killing a paramilitary soldier in late November during nationwide protests over the custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating the dress code for women.

Underlining that EU states remain united in their response to Iran’s actions, Sannino reiterated the bloc’s “firm and principled opposition” to the use of the death penalty “at all times and under all circumstances,” the statement said.