UK ‘appalled’ at execution of four members of minority group in Iran

London, 27 Jun – (ANA) - The United Kingdom, UK, has condemned the execution of four members of the Ahwazi Arab minority living in Iran and called for the immediate overturning of the death sentence for the remaining individual if not yet carried out.  In a statement, UK foreign minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said Iran must take urgent steps to improve its record on the use of the death penalty and stop the persecution of ethnic minorities. .  The five men, Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari, Mansour Heidari and Amir Muawi have been held for over a year accused of ‘enmity against God’ for their protests on behalf of this minority community. Reports suggest that they were denied access to lawyers and interpreters, a blatant abuse of their rights. (ANA)

FA/ANA/27 June 2012----------