Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, today condemned the execution in Iran of Habib Saab, a Swede of Iranian-Swedish origin, for “terrorism”.

“The death penalty is an inhuman and irreversible punishment and Sweden, like the rest of the EU, condemns its use under any circumstances,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Bilström said on Twitter.

Habib Farajullah Saab has been found guilty of being the leader of an organization believed to be responsible for attacks, including on a military parade in 2018 that killed 25 people, state television reported. He was sentenced to death for “corruption on earth”, a crime punishable by death under Iran’s strict Islamic laws.

Justice upheld the verdict on 12 March, a decision condemned by Sweden. “The death penalty is an inhuman punishment… and Sweden, like the rest of the EU, condemns its use in all circumstances,” said Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Bilström.

“The death sentence of Habib Saab… the leader of the terrorist organization Harakat al-Nidal was carried out this morning,” Iranian justice news agency Mizan Online reported today.

Executions in Iran are usually carried out by hanging early in the morning.

More convicts have been executed in Iran than in any other country except China, according to human rights groups, who have estimated the number of executions at 582 in 2022.

Source: AFP, Reuters, APE-MPE.