February 8, 2011
Following the execution of Dutch citizen, Zahra Bahrami, the Dutch government has removed its ambassador from Iran. This move has been criticized by D66 as done to satisfy the parliament, rather than as part of a coherent strategy. (Read more in Dutch in the Volkskrant.)In related developments, following the execution of Dutch citizen, Zahra Bahrami, the US State Department issued a statement of concern over the human rights situation in Iran:
We are particularly troubled by the recent execution of Dutch-Iranian national Zahra Bahrami, who was denied access to Dutch consular officials. Her execution is one of dozens carried out in recent weeks amid serious questions about the motives of the Iranian government and whether these prisoners were granted their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.