Agence France Presses, LONDON – The European Union on Tuesday condemned Iran for continued human rights abuses on the eve of a meeting between the two sides over the Islamic Republic’s controversial fledgling nuclear capability.
In a statement issued by the British presidency, the 25-member bloc said greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms was essential to improve relations between the EU and Iran.
"The EU is deeply concerned that the human rights situation in Iran has not improved in any signficant respect in recent years, and in many respects has worsened," it stated.
The EU observed that the death penalty was still used frequently, even for minor crimes, and with executions carried out in public, while more child offenders were put to death in 2005 than in any recent years.
Freedom of expression was severely curtailed, with widespread restrictions on the press and internet. Reports of torture were still being received, it added.
Senior figures in the Iranian regime reported "significant failings" in how the 2005 presidential election was run and the process of selecting candidates was not democratic.
"Whilst the EU recognises the limited efforts made by some authorities in Iran to improve the administration of justice, it remains deeply concerned at the lack of effective action to reform the laws, institutions and official practices that allow human rights violations to occur," the EU said.
The EU began talks with Iran on human rights in 2002 but admitted it was disappointed with the lack of progress and the fact that Tehran had not agreed to a further round of talks after the last in 2004.
Relations were strained further over Iran’s insistence on its rights to make nuclear fuel, which the West fears could be used to make atom bombs.
Talks with the EU negotiating trio Britain, Germany and France broke off in August when Iran resumed uranium conversion, the first step in enrichment.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent anti-Israeli comments have also added to the deadlock.
But ahead of the Vienna conference, the EU said it was still prepared to discuss human rights and called for a resumption of dialogue.
"Despite Iran’s failure to engage constructively, the EU remains open to discussing human rights, including by means of the dialogue process," their statement continued.
"The EU calls on Iran to demonstrate through its actions a commitment to respect human rights."
Meanwhile, an Iranian exile group called on the UN’s atomic watchdog to probe a network of tunnels it claims the Islamic Republic has built as part of a secret nuclear weapons programme.
Members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran told a London news conference Tuesday negotiations with Tehran should be abandoned and their activities probed by the UN security council.
