Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili listens to a question during a final news conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Negotiations with world powers over how to curb Iran's nuclear program have reached a "turning point" for the better after nearly breaking down last year, the Islamic republic's top official at diplomatic talks said Wednesday at the close of two days of delicate discussions aimed at preventing Tehran from building an atomic arsenal. (AP Photo/Pavel Mikheyev)
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Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili listens to a question during a final news conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Negotiations with world powers over how to curb Iran's nuclear program have reached a "turning point" for the better after nearly breaking down last year, the Islamic republic's top official at diplomatic talks said Wednesday at the close of two days of delicate discussions aimed at preventing Tehran from building an atomic arsenal. (AP Photo/Pavel Mikheyev)
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A Malian soldier handles ammunitions aboard a vehicle as they enter Bourem, northern Mali, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Mali’s military detained eight Arab men last week in Timbuktu, raising fears of further reprisals against the region’s Arab minority whose members are accused of having supported the al-Qaida-linked groups which overran northern Mali last year. (AP Photo /Pascal Guyot, Pool)
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French soldiers take position outside Bourem, northern Mali, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Mali’s military detained eight Arab men last week in Timbuktu, raising fears of further reprisals against the region’s Arab minority whose members are accused of having supported the al-Qaida-linked groups which overran northern Mali last year. (AP Photo /Pascal Guyot, Pool)
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A French army Puma helicopter flies over a village between Gao and Bourem, northern Mali, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Mali’s military detained eight Arab men last week in Timbuktu, raising fears of further reprisals against the region’s Arab minority whose members are accused of having supported the al-Qaida-linked groups which overran northern Mali last year. (AP Photo /Pascal Guyot, Pool)
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Locals welcome French soldiers with a French flag in Bourem, northen Mali, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Mali’s military detained eight Arab men last week in Timbuktu, raising fears of further reprisals against the region’s Arab minority whose members are accused of having supported the al-Qaida-linked groups which overran northern Mali last year. (AP Photo /Pascal Guyot, Pool)
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Locals with French and Malian flags welcome French soldiers on top of a armored vehicle in Bourem, northern Mali, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Mali’s military detained eight Arab men last week in Timbuktu, raising fears of further reprisals against the region’s Arab minority whose members are accused of having supported the al-Qaida-linked groups which overran northern Mali last year. (AP Photo /Pascal Guyot, Pool)
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EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, talks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Markoullis, prior to the start of the EU foreign ministers meeting, at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. European Union foreign ministers were set Monday for a showdown over the bloc's arms embargo on Syria, while tighter sanctions on North Korea were expected to get waved through. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
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EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, left, looks at a book written by the wife of Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, during the EU foreign ministers meeting, at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. European Union foreign ministers were set Monday for a showdown over the bloc's arms embargo on Syria, while tighter sanctions on North Korea were expected to get waved through. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
EU tightens Iran sanctions for rights violations
BRUSSELS (AP) — The
European Union is tightening sanctions against Iran, concerned about alleged violations of human rights in the country.
EU foreign ministers, meeting Monday in Brussels, added nine people they said were "responsible for serious human rights violations" to the list of those subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze, bringing the number of people sanctioned in this way to 87. The foreign ministers also decided to freeze the assets of one "entity," meaning a company or organization.
The measures will be valid until April 13, 2014. The names of those sanctioned will be published Tuesday.
Iran carried out at least 55 public executions in 2012, U.N. spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly has said. Some 400 people were reportedly put to death in the country last year.
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united nations, european union, culture_politics, capital punishment, iran, democracy, human rights, brussels, people, council of europe, travel ban, asset freeze, human rights violations, iran sanctions, european integration, european convention on human rights, foreign ministers, public executions, rights violations, spokeswoman cecile pouilly, eu foreign ministers
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