In a statement, Baroness Catherine Ashton, the E.U.’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said, “The verdict appears to be based on the defendants belonging to a religious minority and the judicial process was seriously flawed, respecting neither Iran's international commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) nor its national legislation regarding fair trial rights. The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion are fundamental rights which must be guaranteed under all circumstances according to article 18 of the ICCPR which the Islamic Republic of Iran has signed up to and ratified. The EU calls on Iran to put an end to the persecution of the Baha'i community.”