EU and 26 Nations Condemn Executions in Iran

The European Union, alongside 26 countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, issued a joint statement forcefully condemning the ongoing execution of protesters in Iran and the suppression of individuals advocating for justice and human dignity. The signatories demanded an immediate cessation of executions and the release of all individuals detained during protests.

Published on Wednesday, August 12, the statement emphasized that utilizing the death penalty to silence dissent, instill fear within communities, and penalize individuals exercising fundamental rights remains entirely unjustifiable.

The signatory nations stressed that the Iranian people must be permitted to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear. They urged the Islamic Republic to immediately halt executions and release all arbitrarily detained individuals.

The signatories include Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, alongside the High Representative of the European Union.

“The Iranian people must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear,” the statement declared, urging the regime to listen to citizens demanding change and take concrete steps to uphold human rights.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot shared the statement on X, writing that seven months after “widespread atrocities” were committed against Iranians taking to the streets for justice and dignity, the government continues “bloodshed” through accelerated executions. Barrot characterized the crackdown as “intolerable and inhumane,” calling for accountability, the release of political prisoners, and respect for fundamental rights to allow Iranians to freely shape their future.