The European Union and Germany have sharply criticized the execution in Iran of the athlete Navid Afkari, who was discovered responsible of the homicide of a policeman by an Iranian courtroom. “The EU condemns the execution of Afkari within the strongest potential phrases. The demise penalty is a merciless and inhuman punishment that the EU rejects underneath all circumstances,” EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell mentioned on Monday 14 September. According to him, Brussels will proceed to attempt to affect Iran and talk about particular person instances with it.
Naveed Afkari, 27, was executed within the Iranian metropolis of Shiraz on September 12, regardless of a world marketing campaign to save lots of him. Afkari was discovered responsible of stabbing a policeman in August 2018 throughout a protest in Shiraz underneath financial and political slogans. According to the Iranian justice authorities, Afkari confessed to the crime, however human rights organizations declare that the confessionary testimony was pressured out of the athlete underneath torture.
Germany is outraged by Afkari execution
The German Foreign Ministry has sharply condemned the execution of Afkari. “We are outraged that the sentence of the athlete Navid Afkari was carried out in Iran final Saturday. The federal authorities condemns this execution within the strongest phrases, which was carried out regardless of worldwide protests and requests,” mentioned a German overseas ministry official.
The consultant famous that there are critical causes to doubt the equity of the trial towards the athlete. He added that Berlin additionally takes severely the accusation that Afkari solely confessed underneath torture. According to the consultant, the federal authorities has repeatedly and at a really excessive diplomatic degree sought to overturn the demise sentence handed right down to Navid Afkari.
“The federal authorities attaches nice significance to the precise to freedom of expression. The federal authorities’s place on the demise penalty can be unambiguous: it’s a merciless and inhuman punishment that we reject in all circumstances. We demand authorized proceedings in all instances involving detainees in reference to protests in Iran, in addition to the refusal to impose demise sentences and their execution “, – summed up the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Germany.
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Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Massive pro-government actions
In response to the protests that erupted in varied cities of Iran on December 28, the nation’s management organized pro-government actions. On January 3, state broadcasters reported tons of of 1000’s of individuals demonstrating in help of the authorities. On the identical day, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Ali Jafari, mentioned that the time of “turmoil” in Iran was over and the demonstrators had been defeated.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
The starting of the protests
Massive protests in Iran started on December 28 in Mashhad within the northeast of the nation, close to the border with Turkmenistan. This metropolis is the birthplace of one of many leaders of the conservative clergy of Iran, ex-prosecutor normal of the nation Ibrahim Raizi, a rival of Hassan Rouhani within the 2017 presidential elections.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Dissatisfaction with excessive costs and authorities insurance policies
On the primary day of the protests, road actions within the metropolis of Mashhad escalated into clashes between protesters and police, a minimum of 50 individuals have been detained. Protesters expressed dissatisfaction with rising costs and unemployment, in addition to the authorities’ overseas coverage resulting in the imposition of sanctions towards Tehran. Subsequently, the demonstrators opposed the theocratic system current within the nation.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Protests reached Tehran
On December 29, Iranian authorities warned residents towards collaborating in additional actions, particularly within the capital. But on December 30, a bunch of scholars staged a rally in Tehran. They chanted “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran”, protesting towards the federal government spending cash on supporting pro-Iranian teams within the Middle East, and never on the event of the nation. Protests passed off in a number of cities in Iran.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Hundreds of detainees
In the course of road actions in Tehran by December 30, 200 individuals have been detained, 40 of whom the authorities referred to as “leaders of unlawful gatherings.” Now the courtroom awaits them. In the next days, the full variety of these detained, in line with official figures, exceeded 450 individuals.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
More than 20 useless
The first two demonstrators have been killed in anti-government demonstrations on December 30 within the western Iranian metropolis of Dorud. Local authorities say the police had nothing to do with it, and so they have “proof” that the Islamic State jihadist group was answerable for the deaths of the demonstrators. During the protests, Iranian authorities mentioned 21 individuals died.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Blocking Telegram and Instagram
On the final day of 2017, the Iranian authorities blocked the Instagram picture and video sharing software and the Telegram messenger within the nation. They defined their determination by the truth that it’s essential “to keep up peace and safety of residents.” The founding father of Telegram, Pavel Durov, mentioned that the blocking of the messenger was because of the firm’s refusal to shut the channels utilized by the protesters.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Rouhani spoke in regards to the want for freedom of criticism in Iran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the violence at a December 31 cupboard assembly, however referred to as on the federal government to “create alternatives for professional criticism and protests.” He additionally referred to as Iran a free nation during which everyone seems to be entitled to their very own opinion.
Protests in Iran: the way it occurred
Khamenei: Protests are organized by “enemies of Iran”
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, talking in an official handle on one of many state TV channels on Tuesday, January 2, mentioned that the actions of the protesters are being managed from overseas. “In recent days, Iran’s enemies have provided the troublemakers with money, weapons, and political support to harm the country, “Khamenei said.
Protests in Iran: how it happened
Reaction from Berlin
Germany called on the Iranian authorities, where massive anti-government protests continued for a week, to respect freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. “The German government is following events in Iran with concern, in particular the reports of casualties and numerous arrests,” said Ulrike Demmer, deputy cabinet spokesman for Germany on Wednesday, January 3.
Protests in Iran: how it happened
Criticism from Brussels
EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini criticized the rise in violence in Iran. The country’s authorities should respect the people’s right to freedom of opinion and assembly, Mogherini stressed on Tuesday, January 2. And she added that the EU is following the unrest in Iran, regretting the “unacceptable loss of human lives.”
Protests in Iran: how it happened
Accusations from Trump
President Donald Trump criticized the actions of the Iranian authorities, accusing them of “violating human rights every hour”, sponsoring terrorism, and also “blocking Internet access to prevent peaceful demonstrators from exchanging messages.” “We call on all parties to respect the right to freedom of expression and avoid any action that promotes censorship,” the White House mentioned in an announcement.
