John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations which he has made to the Iranian Government regarding the execution of two gay Iranian teenagers by the Iranians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24531/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I was deeply concerned by reports of the public execution of two youths in Mashad in Iran on 19 July. The Government is strongly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. The worldwide abolition of the death penalty is a political priority for Ireland and for our partners in the EU. We have also strongly urged states which retain the death penalty not to apply it to any person below adult age. One of the youths in this case was aged under 18.

The EU issued a statement on 26 July expressing strong concerns in relation to use of the death penalty in Iran, the execution of minors and the details of the Mashad case. These concerns have also been raised specifically with the Foreign Ministry in Iran. The Government will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Iran closely, through our Embassy in Tehran and in co-operation with our partners in the EU.