Minister for Foreign Affairs condemns execution by stoning in Iran

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., has condemned as barbaric the execution by stoning of an Iranian man last week. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs called in Iran’s Head of Mission this afternoon to express the Government’s outright condemnation of the execution of Mr. Jafar Kiani and to emphasise that the Government expects the Iranian authorities to act to ensure that a similar sentence on Mrs. Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, the mother of the couple’s two children, is not carried out.

Speaking after the Department’s meeting with the Iranian Charge d’Affaires, the Minister stated:

“I was horrified to learn of the execution by stoning of Mr. Jafar Kiani in Iran.  The execution is contrary to Iran’s obligations under international human rights law and to a moratorium which the Iranian Government was supposed to be observing on this inhuman and barbaric practice.  I asked that the Iranian Head of Mission be called in to the Department this afternoon in order to express the Government’s outright condemnation of the execution.  The immediate priority now must be to ensure that the life of Mrs. Ebrahimi is spared.  We have made it clear that we expect the Iranian Government to act immediately to ensure that her execution is not carried out and that the welfare of her two children is guaranteed”.