“It is clear to us that the legal process that led to the Swedish citizen being executed has not been fair,” Stenergard wrote.
“The death penalty is an inhumane, cruel and irreversible punishment. Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, condemns its application in all circumstances” she added “Sweden will continue to condemn serious human rights violations in Iran.”
The execution takes place during the third week of the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, where the regime has a long record of human rights violations, most recently underscored by a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.
Iran also has a history of detaining Western nationals, including Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish academic who has also been imprisoned in Iran since 2016 and has been sentenced to death on charges of spying for Israel; and Johan Floderus, an EU official who was released as part of a deal with Tehran in 2024.
In comments to Swedish media, Stenergard said she had been made aware that the execution was imminent late Tuesday and had tried to make contact with her Iranian counterpart, to no avail. Stenergard has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Stockholm.