Germany slams execution of 2 more protesters in Iran

BERLIN

Germany on Monday condemned the execution of two more demonstrators in Iran.

"The federal government condemns in the strongest terms that the Iranian regime continues to use the death penalty as a means of repression," Steffen Hebestreit told media representatives in Berlin.

He called on the government in Tehran "again and urgently" not to carry out any further death sentences and to abolish the death penalty immediately.

Together with the allies, the pressure on Iran will continue to increase, Hebestreit added.

"We call on Iran to immediately release all those unjustly detained," he said.

Iran’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency announced on Saturday the execution of two men blamed for the death of a security officer during anti-government protests in November.

A total of four demonstrators have so far been executed in connection with the protests in the country that have been going on for more than three months.

The nationwide protests in Iran were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody on Sept. 16, 2022. Amini was arrested by the so-called moral police for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code.

At least 517 protesters, among them dozens of children, have been killed and over 19,200 people have been arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists in Iran, a non-governmental organization closely monitoring the unrest.

Iranian authorities have not provided an official count of those killed or detained.