The European Union said it was "appalled" after Iran today executed two men for killing a paramilitary force member during protests sparked by a young woman's death in custody.
"The EU is appalled by the execution of Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini arrested and sentenced to death in connection with the ongoing protests in Iran," the spokesperson for EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
"This is yet another sign of the Iranian authorities' violent repression of civilian demonstrations," he said.
"The European Union calls once again on the Iranian authorities to immediately end the strongly condemnable practice of imposing and carrying out death sentences against protesters."
The statement came after Iran executed two more men to double the number of executions to four over the nationwide protests, which escalated since mid-September into calls for an end to Iran's clerical regime.
The Dutch government will summon the Iranian ambassador to the Netherlands for the second time in a month to voice its deep concerns over the execution of demonstrators, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said.
"Appalled by the horrible executions of demonstrators in Iran. I will summon the Iranian ambassador to underline our serious concerns and I call upon EU Member States to do the same," Mr Hoekstra said in a tweet.
Appalled by the horrible executions of demonstrators in #Iran. I will summon the Iranian ambassador to underline our serious concerns and I call upon EU Member States to do the same. 1/2
— Wopke Hoekstra (@WBHoekstra) January 7, 2023
Mr Hoekstra said these actions underlined the need for the European Union to impose stronger sanctions on Iran than are currently being considered.
The Netherlands also summoned the Iranian ambassador in The Hague last month to protest against the execution of demonstrators in the country.
Authorities have arrested thousands of people in the wave of demonstrations that began with the September death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22.
The Iranian Kurdish woman had been arrested by morality police for allegedly breaching the regime's strict dress code for women.
Meanwhile, the US State Department condemned "in the strongest terms" what it said were the "sham trials and execution" of the two men in Iran.
"These executions are a key component of the regime's effort to suppress protests," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter.
"We continue to work with partners to pursue accountability for Iran's brutal crackdown."
