London: Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday branded Iran a “disgrace” over what he called its “shameful” catalogue of recent human rights abuses.
Hague said he was “deeply disturbed” by incidents over the past few months, which amounted to an “utter disregard for the most fundamental human rights”.
He cited the torture and sentencing to death of five members of the Ahwazi Arab minority, coming weeks after the “secret execution” of four others for the crime of “enmity against God”.
The Foreign Office said there had been continuing persecution of other religious minorities, including Christians and followers of the Bahai faith, as well as the denial of medical treatment to seriously ill prisoners.
Britain remains concerned about a large number of ongoing cases, the ministry said.
“Sadly, these are not isolated incidents and many other Iranians are currently suffering at the hands of their government,” said Hague.
“Iran’s continued, widespread persecution of ethnic minorities, human rights defenders and political prisoners is a disgrace and stands as a shameful indictment of Iran’s leaders.
“The Iranian government should know that its systematic attempt to curtail the freedom of its citizens will not go unchallenged by the international community and only adds to its isolation.
“I call on Iran immediately to commute these death sentences, to stop torturing its citizens and to end the systematic persecution of its ethnic minorities.”
