News story

FCO condemns death sentences in Iran for financial crimes

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt calls on Iran to commute death sentences of four men convicted of embezzlement

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 10 April 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Commenting on reports that four men have been given the death sentence in Iran for embezzlement, Foreign Office Minister Africa Alistair Burt said:

I condemn the recent death sentences, confirmed on 8 April by Iran’s Supreme Court, against four individuals charged with embezzlement. The UK is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in any circumstances. While corruption and financial crime are not insignificant offences, international law stipulates that the death penalty should only be used for the “most serious crimes”. I call upon Iran to commute the sentences of Mahafarid Amir-Khosravi, Behdad Behzadi, Iraj Shojai and Saeed Kiani Rezazadeh in line with its international human rights obligations.

Further Information

Read about the UK government’s work persuading other countries to abolish the death penalty

Visit the UK for Iranians website pages

Published 10 April 2013