30 Jan 2011

Netherlands protests to Iran over execution

12:06 pm on 30 January 2011

The Dutch government has frozen all contacts with Iran in protest over the hanging of a Dutch-Iranian woman.

The foreign ministry said it was "shocked, shattered by this act by a barbaric regime".

Sahra Bahrami, 46, was hanged for drug smuggling early on Saturday.

Her family accuses Tehran of fabricating the case against her after she was detained for taking part in anti-government protests in 2009.

The Dutch foreign ministry announced the freeze in all contacts with Iran on Saturday.

The BBC reports any official meetings or contacts with Iranians now must have prior written approval.

The execution brought the reported total number of people hanged in Iran so far this year to 66.