Execution in Iran: what does this mean for Europe?
The execution of Iranian opposition journalist Ruhollah Zam has sparked international outrage. Zam had been living in France as a fugitive since 2009, but was lured back to Iraq last year and kidnapped there, according to media reports. He was sentenced in June and hanged near Tehran on Saturday. Europe's press also discusses the future of the nuclear deal against this backdrop.
Tehran going too far
The journalist's execution is another slap in the face for the EU, Der Standard fumes:
“Zam's death affects France, and hence the entire EU. What's more, there are a number of EU citizens - including two Austrians - in jail in Tehran facing absurd charges. A few weeks ago they were joined by a 66-year-old German architect of Iranian origin. These are nothing other than state hostage-takings. ... The EU has continued to rely on Iran and the international community returning to the 2015 nuclear agreement in Vienna once US President Donald Trump is gone. Trump pulled out of it, the Europeans want to save it - and are being repeatedly humiliated by Tehran for their efforts. But things are going too far now.”
Deal with different problems separately
The taz warns against linking the issue of human rights in Iran with the nuclear agreement:
“In the past it has proven useful to negotiate disarmament issues as disarmament issues, and not mix them with other issues. If the nuclear deal is tied to human rights issues, it will fail. And in every respect that would be too risky to be acceptable. Sanctions and political pressure because of the massive human rights violations in Iran can and should be decided independently of the nuclear deal. The economic situation in Iran is currently so serious, so dramatic, that they can quickly lead to success.”