Iran reacts angrily to UN criticism over executions

Foreign ministry says country a ‘victim of terrorism,’ slams meddling in its domestic affairs

Illustrative photo of an execution in Iran. (AFP/Arash Khamooshi/ISNA)
Illustrative photo of an execution in Iran. (AFP/Arash Khamooshi/ISNA)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s state TV is reporting that the Iranian foreign ministry has reacted angrily to UN criticism of the country’s execution of 20 Kurdish militants earlier this month.

The Saturday report on Iran’s state TV website quotes foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as accusing the West of meddling in internal Iranian affairs.

Ghasemi says, “while Iran is itself victim of terrorism, it will do its best to maintain the safety of its citizens.”

His comments follow a Friday statement from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, criticizing Iran for the executions.

Ghasemi says that the judiciary had found the 20 men guilty of several charges, including attempting to establish a militant group, making explosives and planting bombs in Iranian cities.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

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