COPENHAGEN, March 18 (Reuters) - A Swedish citizen was executed in Iran on Wednesday, Sweden's foreign minister said in a statement. (Reporting by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik)
Sweden says Iran has executed a Swedish citizen
Swedish Government and International Response to Execution
Details of the Execution
STOCKHOLM, March 18 (Reuters) - Iran executed a Swedish citizen on Wednesday, Sweden's foreign minister said, adding that she had summoned the Iranian ambassador in Stockholm to condemn the decision.
The person, who was not named, was arrested in Iran in June of last year and Sweden has repeatedly raised the case with Iranian officials, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said.
Sweden's Official Condemnation
"The death penalty is an inhumane, cruel and irreversible punishment. Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, condemns its application in all circumstances," Stenergard said.
Concerns Over Legal Proceedings
The legal proceedings leading up to the execution did not meet the standards of due process, she added.
International Reaction
European Union's Response
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the execution in a statement on Wednesday evening.
"The appalling human rights situation in Iran and the alarming increase in executions are intolerable and show the regime's true colours," she said, sending condolences to the family of the citizen.
Requests for Comment
The Swedish foreign ministry and the Iranian embassy in Stockholm did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters via phone and email.
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander in Stockholm, Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen and Inti Landauro in Brussels, editing by Terje Solsvik and Hugh Lawson)
