May 21, 2013, 23:34:48
Political prisoner human-rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is serving an 11-year jail term

Ashton: Iran should release all political captives

By Mária Sánta |

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton has called on Iran to release all political captives, as the country “is in breach of the international obligations that Iran has itself signed up to”.

Ashton criticised the country's persecution of human-rights lawyers and activists, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is now serving an 11-year prison sentence. Despite the EU expressing concerns over her case, Iran continued its policy and arrested the prominent human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani, as well as Nasrin Sotoudeh’s own lawyer.

“This illustrates the erosion of political and civil freedoms in Iran and is indicative of the increasingly difficult conditions for human rights activists in Iran,” Ashton said.

However, she welcomed the release of Dr. Arash Alaei, an AIDS physician, who was inprisoned in 2008, in connection with the end of Ramadam pardon. “But I remain worried that, despite the overall release of 1,200 prisoners, many  are still detained on grounds which appear above all to be political,” Ashton added.

#TAGGED

Abdolfattah Soltani,
Asia,
Catherine Ashton,
Commission,
Diplomatic Relations,
European Union,
Iran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Nasrin Sotoudeh,
Person Career,
Quotation,
Representative,
Social Issues,
vice-president,

taxonomy

POST YOUR COMMENT

We welcome your comments on New Europe's articles and posts. It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers around the world. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the terms and conditions.
By submitting comments, you are consenting to these terms and conditions. While NEW EUROPE encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. NEW EUROPE does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments.
NEW EUROPE welcomes constructive discussion but discourages the use of copy-pasted materials, unaccompanied links and one-line slogans. This is a moderated forum.Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may be edited or not be published.