Iran’s Chargé d’affaires summoned

In connection with the swearing-in of President Ahmadinejad for a second four-year term, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Iran’s Chargé d’affaires in Norway today to express its concern about the human rights situation in the country.

“Norway has expressed its concern about the situation of the protesters, politicians, journalists and human rights defenders who have been detained in Iran. The reports of the use of torture in prisons are particularly serious,” said Foreign Minister Støre.

“Norway calls on the Iranian authorities to release the detainees and treat all prisoners in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is party. We have also underlined that it is entirely unacceptable that employees at Shirin Ebadi’s Centre for Human Rights Defenders have been detained,” said the Foreign Minister.

“We furthermore urge Iran to allow the UN special rapporteurs on human rights to visit the country so they can report to the UN Human Rights Council on the situation,” said Mr Støre.