Norway’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Oslo, Mohsen Bavafa, to express its concern for the human rights situation in Iran.Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere also called on Iran to release protesters arrested after the disputed 12 June presidential election, the ministry said in a statement.
“The authorities in Iran do not respect basic human rights,” Stoere said.
“Norway objects to the politically-motivated arrests, and reacts in particular to the fact that local employees at the British embassy in Tehran have been imprisoned,” he added.
Iran arrested nine Iranian employees at the British embassy in Tehran, and accused them of fomenting post-election unrest. All but one of the nine have been released.
Oslo also condemned the arrests of opposition members, journalists, human rights activists and peaceful demonstrators.
“Iranian authorities are urged to immediately stop political arrests and release those unjustly imprisoned,” said the foreign minister.
Norway also condemned the 4 July execution of 20 Iranians convicted of drug trafficking.
In addition, Stoere raised his concern over the situation of the Baha’i community in Iran, in particular the upcoming trial against seven Baha’i leaders in Tehran.
“I urge the Iranian authorities to respect the religious beliefs of all minorities in Iran,” he said.
[Source: Norway’s Foreign Ministry website via Washington TV]
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