February 4, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada is deeply troubled by reports of a drastic surge in executions in Iran. At least 50 executions have been reported in the first month of 2014 alone. Last year, Iran executed more than 600 people.
“We will judge Iran by its actions, not just by its words. At this rate, Iran is on track, once again, to have one of the highest rates of execution in the world.
“Despite the electoral promises made by President Hassan Rouhani to improve people’s lives, Iranians continue to live in fear of arbitrary imprisonment, torture and execution by the clerical regime.
“Canada deplores Iran’s continued disregard for due process and human rights violations against its people. The Iranian people deserve the dignity, respect and freedom that they have been denied for too long.”
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