The EU remains deeply concerned at the growing repression against all groups which exercise their right to freely express their opinions, and at the escalation of restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said a statement by Portugal, which currently holds the EUs rotating presidency.
The 27-nation bloc condemned the closure of newspapers and other media outlets in Iran, as well as the arrest and persecution of journalists, web bloggers, and Human Rights Defenders for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The EU said it was deeply troubled by jail sentences handed down to three students from Tehrans Amir Kabir University – Ehsan Masoori, Ahmad Ghassaban and Majid Tavakkoli.
