EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Sunday expressed her "deep concern" to hear that Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti hasrecently died in custody. "The EU expects the Iranian authorities to conduct a thorough enquiry into the case, in order to establish the exact circumstances of his death," said Michael Mann, spokesman for Ashton, in a statement. "The EU remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Iran, and urges the Iranian authorities to halt the repression of bloggers and internet activists," said the statement. Ashton calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure that Iranian citizens enjoy full respect and protection of the rights granted to them in the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has subscribed," it added.