Roma, May 20, 2009 – Franco Frattini’s decision to cancel his trip to Iran was the least he could do, an Italian lawmaker said on Wednesday. Elizabetta Zamparutti of the Radical Party, who is also the director of the human rights organization Hands Off Cain, said, it would not, however, be sufficient if the Italian Foreign Minister’s motivations for cancellation were only tied to Iran’s insistence to hold the meeting with Ahmadinejad at the location of a long range missile test. She made the remarks at a parliamentary debate about Frattini’s startling decision to visit Iran.
Zamparutti added, “The reasons for his cancellation should be more significant. Frattini should acknowledge and try to stop not only Ahmadinejad’s threat to world peace and security, but more importantly, the Tehran regime’s daily threats against its own people which have continued for decades.”
“This is required more so from a minister of a country that is known for its struggle to obtain a universal moratorium on capital punishment. Iran conducts executions without any limitations and uses unimaginably cruel methods. During the first months of 2009, executions have increased 70% compared to the same period last year. In the month of May alone, 21 people were hanged between May 2nd and 8th, another 9 between the 11th and the 13th, and another 8 on May 16th. Iran was the only country in the world to execute minors in 2008, numbering at least 13, while at least another 3 were hanged in 2009.”
“Two people were stoned in December 2008 and one was stoned in March. It would be illusory to think, as Frattini does, that Iran could play a role in stabilising the region. The mullahs’ regime is itself part of the problem and not the solution in that area. From Lebanon to Palestine and Iraq, it seeks to create instability abroad in order to achieve stability internally.”
