Denmark summons Iranian envoy over latest executions

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) - Denmark on Monday said it summoned Iran’s ambassador over the latest execution of protesters, as well as the country’s human rights situation and violent crackdown on protesters.

Denmark condemns “in the strongest possible terms this weekend’s execution of two young Iranian demonstrators,” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.

Iran hanged two men on Saturday for killing a paramilitary soldier in late November during nationwide protests over the custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating the dress code for women.

The executions have been condemned by several countries and global rights groups, with questions raised over the legitimacy of what the UN has said were “unfair trials based on forced confessions.”

“This is completely unacceptable, and we have now said that in very clear terms to the Iranian regime,” Rasmussen said in a Foreign Ministry statement, calling out Tehran for its descent down a “destructive path.”

He said Denmark wants to see the EU impose more sanctions on Iran, adding that he will take this up with colleagues in Paris and Brussels.

The EU has already imposed a raft of sanctions on Iran over its forceful crackdown on protesters.

In a tweet on Saturday, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said a fourth human rights sanctions package “is already in preparation for the next EU Foreign Affairs Council,” referring to the committee’s meeting scheduled for Jan. 23.