Iran’s ambassador to Germany was summoned again, on Monday, to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after a wave of executions in Iran, including that of Saturday’s former Iranian deputy defense minister Alireza Akbari, sentenced to death for espionage and executed by hanging, announced a spokesman for German diplomacy, during a press conference, AFP and Reuters inform, Agerpres reads.

The spokesman of the ministry, Christofer Burger, declared that this convocation is taking place „because of the massive violations of human rights and the wave of executions” in Iran. It is the second time in eight days that the German Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador.

Last Monday, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to deliver a protest against the recent execution of two men in connection with the demonstrations triggered by the death of young Mahsa Amini.

Alireza Akbari, who was 61 years old and had dual citizenship, British and Iranian, had been convicted of „corruption and damage to the internal and external security” of Iran, because he „passed information” to the British secret service MI6. Alireza Akbari held the post of deputy minister of defense during the mandate of former reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005).

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence described Akbari’s case as „one of the most important infiltrations” in Iran’s security system. The former minister became a „key spy” for MI6 by virtue of his prominent position and provided Britain with notable information.

Akbari’s execution provoked the indignation of Western countries and NGOs, who denounced „a barbaric act”, which „will not go unanswered”.

The United Kingdom announced on Saturday that it had introduced sanctions against Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, to underline London’s „disgust” at the execution of Alireza Akbari for espionage. And American diplomacy declared itself on Saturday „horrified” by the execution of Alireza Akbari and expressed its support for the British government against an „unjust” act.

Iran was rocked by demonstrations that were sparked by the death on September 16 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after her arrest for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women. Eighteen people were sentenced to death in connection with the demonstrations, and four were executed.

Agerpres