Press release

UK urges Iran to reconsider death penalty

Following the execution of Reyhaneh Jabbari, Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood MP, calls on Iran to end the use of the death penalty.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, said:

The UK strongly opposes the use of the death penalty. I am very concerned and saddened that it has been used in the case of Reyhaneh Jabbari where there have been questions around due process.

The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, noted that her conviction was allegedly based on confessions made while under threat, and the court failed to take into account all evidence into its judgement. Actions like these do not help Iran build confidence or trust with the international community. I urge Iran to put a moratorium on all executions.

Further information

Follow Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood on twitter @TobiasEllwoodMP

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+

Media enquiries

For journalists

Published 25 October 2014