European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton demanded Friday that Iran halt the pending executions of a woman sentenced to die by stoning and a Christian pastor convicted of apostasy, Trend cites CNN as saying.
Ashton also called on Iran to impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty, saying the country leads the world in the number of executions per inhabitant.
"Thousands of individuals remain at risk of execution, including Ms Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. The EU reiterates its call on Iran not to execute them," Ashton said in a written statement.
"Hundreds of individuals were executed in 2011 after grossly unfair trials, without the right of appeal and for offenses, which according to international standards should not result in capital punishment."
Ashtiani's case drew international attention after she was sentenced to die by stoning for adultery.
International pressure also has been mounting over the case of Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of apostasy in 2011.
Nadarkhani is the leader of a network of Iranian house churches and was first charged with apostasy in 2010 for converting from Islam to Christianity.
EU demands halt to Iran executions
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