10 executions, including two women, concurrent with Ms. Mogherini’s trip to Iran

From April 14 to 16, concurrent with the visit of the EU High Representative to Iran, the antihuman clerical regime sent 10 prisoners to the gallows. Three were executed in Rasht central prison on April 16 while the other seven, including two women, were collectively hanged in Birjand central prison on April 14. Prior, on the verge of the visit by the EU representative and the Italian Prime Minister, 14 prisoners had been executed.
Officials of the Iranian regime, who are fearful of a revolt by the army of the unemployed and hungry, are ratcheting up suppression and slaughter on a daily basis to rein in social protests. The head of the regime’s commerce chamber noted: “Security may be harmed by economic factors such as an increase in unemployment, stagnation and huge governmental debts to the private sector… and this situation has been passed on from the year 94 [last Persian year 1394] to year 95. The brittle climate of business is unable to absorb political tensions… Playing politics in the economic climate may imperil national security.” (Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC Quds Force – April 17)

The relationship of European countries with the religious fascism ruling Iran and visits by their officials to Tehran amid their continued shameful silence and inaction regarding the horrendous and systematic violation of human rights in Iran emboldens this regime to continue with its torture, executions, slaughters, suppression of women and ethnic and religious minorities, and its defiance of international law and conventions. Improvement of economic and political relations with this medieval regime ought to be preconditioned to improvement of human rights and in particular a halt to executions.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
April 19, 2016