An Open Letter to Danish Foreign Minister, Per Stig Møller

On September 10, a Danish-led delegation from the European Union is to visit Iran. The aim of the visit, clearly, is to develop the already cordial relations between the EU and one of the mist despotic regimes of the century in Iran.

Of all the numerous violations of human rights that are going on in Iran, here I would like to particularly mention the stoning of men and women. You must already be aware that the Islamic regime of Iran has stoned scores of people to death. You must also be aware of the case of Maryam Ayoobi, the mother of two children aged six and eight, who was stoned to death last year and also of the stoning to death, shortly afterwards, of Shahla for taking part in a porno movie. You must also have heard about the four women, Sima, Ferdows, Shahnaz and Ashraf, who are currently in prison in Iran, awaiting death by stoning.

For a long time, the governments in the West justified their economic and political ties with the Iranian regime under the pretext of a “critical dialogue”. In recent years, they have defended these relations by describing Khatami as a reformist! I would like to inform you, however, that the so-called reformist president has never uttered a word of criticism against stoning. Indeed, many people have continued to be stoned to death under his presidency. And last week in Tehran, Khatami reaffirmed his commitment to applying the Islamic Constitution and Islamic laws in their entirety, which includes death by stoning for those who engage in extra-marital affairs and execution of homosexuals.

My question and, I am sure, the question of all those people who are appalled by these brutal laws is, how can governments of countries where their own people are opposed to these savage treatment of human beings, so callously continue to develop economic and political ties with such a regime? By accommodating to this regime and not taking any action to stop such human tragedies, the European Union shows its willingness to sacrifice fundamental human rights for the sake of the European governments’ economic and political interests.

The International Committee against Stoning condemns this appeasement of the Iranian regime. The response of the European Union towards the stoning of people in Iran and the laws of retributory punishment (Qesas) is a crucial measure by which the people in Iran, who are the direct victims of these savage laws and punishments, judge the European Union. We demand that your government and the European Union condemn the Iranian regime for its violation of human rights and put pressure on that regime to cease the savage act of stoning and retributory punishment.

Mina Ahadi

Coordinator of the International Committee against Stoning

September 2002