Iran summons Swiss envoy over call to halt executions

TEHRAN (AFP): Iran has summoned Switzerland’s ambassador over a tweet calling for a stop to executions linked to protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, Tehran’s Foreign Ministry said.

The Swiss Embassy took to Twitter on Friday to “strongly condemn” the execution earlier that day of three men convicted of killing security force members during last year’s protests in the central city of Isfahan.

“Switzerland urges Iran to stop these executions and to take steps to reduce the use of the death penalty,” said the tweet from the embassy, which also represents US interests in Tehran.

Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano was summoned “following Switzerland’s interventionist position in our country’s internal affairs,” the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

The Swiss tweet featured an image from a demonstration outside Iran showing protesters raising a poster of Amini — who died in custody on Sept. 16 — and waving Iran’s pre-revolution flag.

Tehran on Sunday condemned “the unconventional and unprofessional use of this country’s embassy in Tehran in republishing an image with a fake flag.”

“Such an unconventional action is not compatible with the friendly relations between Iran and the Swiss Confederation, and should be corrected,” the statement said.

Iran witnessed waves of nationwide protests following the death of Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for an alleged breach of dress rules for women.

During the protests, which Tehran generally labeled as foreign-instigated “riots,” thousands of Iranians were arrested and hundreds killed including dozens of security personnel.