Iran rights abuse raises threat of new EU sanctions

AFP: Several European countries are gunning for new sanctions against Iran due to recent human rights violations, including the execution of an Iranian-Dutch national, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.

BRUSSELS, February 22, 2011 (AFP) – Several European countries are gunning for new sanctions against Iran due to recent human rights violations, including the execution of an Iranian-Dutch national, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.

The sanctions would be targeted at “Iranian rights violators such as judges and prosecutors,” said the source, who asked not to be identified.

At talks in Brussels between foreign ministers of the 27 EU members this week, seven European Union countries called for sanctions to be adopted when the ministers gather again next month.

The countries were Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

The EU recently boycotted a ceremony marking the 32nd anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution to protest the February 4 execution of Zahra Bahrami, an Iranian-Dutch national sentenced for drug trafficking.

And Spain has denounced the detention of one of its diplomats in Tehran last week in breach of international conventions protecting diplomats.