The Presidency would like to inform Partners that the Iranian Chargi d’Affaires in the Czech Republic was summoned by the Director General of the Section of Non-European Countries and Development Cooperation to meet the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on February 17, 2009. The Presidency expressed its deep concern with the case of Ahmad Rahimi Kamalabadi  (aka Rahim Ahmadi) who was convicted and sentenced to death for crime committed when he was minor. His execution was due on February 18, 2009. The Presidency urgently called on Iran to stop the execution that would represent a direct contravention of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s international commitments.

The Presidency urged the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully comply with its commitments under international human rights conventions, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child that it has both signed and ratified. The Presidency asked Iranian Chargi d’Affaires to convey the expression of concern to the responsible authorities in Iran and to inform the Presidency about their response.

In his reply the Iranian Chargi d’Affaires promised to deliver this appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the close of the convocation, the Presidency informed Iranian Chargi d’Affaires about issuing the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the trial with seven Baha’i leaders in Iran. The Presidency stressed its opposition to all forms of discrimination and persecution, especially based on religious belief.