(No. 49 - January 29, 2010 - 12:35 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the execution of two Iranians and the deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran:
“Canada is deeply concerned by reports that the Government of Iran executed Mohammad Reza Ali-Zammani and Aresh Rahmanipour on January 28, 2010. The Iranian government’s ongoing persecution of Iranians for their political or religious beliefs or their ethnic affiliation is unacceptable.
“The increase in the number of arbitrary detentions, death sentences and executions in Iran since its presidential election in June 2009 is a disturbing trend that Iran must reverse. Canada notes that the Government of Iran continues to deny political prisoners fair and transparent trials, and furthermore that more trials are scheduled.
“Canada once again calls on Iran to meet its domestic and international legal obligations, and further urges Iran to ensure that due process is respected for those detained.”
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