I am deeply concerned at the substantial deterioration in the human rights situation in Iran, from what was an already very poor level, since the disputed Presidential election in June 2009. I am particularly disturbed by the continuing high rate of executions in Iran. It is appalling that the Iranian government uses death sentences and executions as political tools to create a climate of fear and hence discourage dissent.
It is clear that there has been a pronounced increase in the rate of executions during the first months of this year, possibly deliberately intended to discourage opposition protests on Iran's National Day on 11 February. EU High Representative Ashton, in a statement issued on 27 January which I fully support, expressed deep concerns on the part of the EU at the alarming rate of increase in executions. She called upon the Iranian authorities to halt all pending executions and to declare a moratorium on the death penalty as soon as possible.
Within such an abysmal human rights environment, there are some individual cases that particularly epitomise the injustices which are being perpetrated. The sentencing in January 2011 of the Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh to 11 years in prison, as well as an effective lifetime ban in Ms Sotoudeh's practice of her profession and her confinement to Iran, is one such case. I fully support High Representative Ashton's statement on 14 January expressing the utmost concern at this sentence. Last week, it transpired that Mrs Sotoudeh had withdrawn her appeal as she had been told that such an appeal would be futile. She has also, to date, been denied proper access to medical assistance. These are further violations of her inalienable rights under both Iranian and international law. I call on the Iranian authorities to release Mrs Sotoudeh without delay.
The case of Ms. Sakineh Ashtiani, sentenced to death by stoning for adultery last year, has justifiably attracted widespread international condemnation and attention. Senior officials in my Department have directly raised her case on a number of occasions with the Iranian Ambassador and appealed for this sentence to be overturned. High Representative Ashton has again clearly articulated the EU's serious concerns on this case, including in a statement made on 2 November 2010.
My Department engages in ongoing dialogue with the Iranian Ambassador and his Embassy on these issues. My officials have already held a number of meetings with the Ambassador since the start of this year to convey our grave concerns at the human rights situation in Iran. We also continue to be active at EU level in pressing for stronger EU action in relation to the human rights situation in Iran. At its most recent meeting, which I attended, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted restrictive measures, comprising a travel ban and asset freeze, against a number of serious human rights offenders in Iran. I welcome this step as a demonstration of the depth of our concern.
Further measures have also been agreed in order to allow the EU respond in a more timely fashion to serious violations of human rights in Iran while also trying to keep some basic channels of communication open with the Iranian authorities. Ireland was also active in ensuring the successful adoption at the recently concluded session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva of a decision providing for appointment of a Special Rapporteur to examine Iran's human rights situation. We will continue to call in the clearest terms for an improvement in the human rights situation in Iran, including through bilateral contacts, with our EU partners and at the UN.
