What changed

B90102/2024

B90109/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

The European Parliament,

– having regard to RuleRules 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas on 23 January 2024, 23-year-old protester Mohammad Ghobadlou was executed in Iran; whereas Ghobadlou was arrested during the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in September 2022, accused of killing an Iranian official; whereas Ghobadlou was charged with “corruption on earth”, following a reportedly unfair trial marred by torture allegations; whereas appeals to take into account his mental condition were rejected;

A. whereas Iran substantially increased executions, killing at least 834 persons in 2023, and at least 54 already in 2024;

B. Whereas Iranian authorities have recently escalated executions at an alarming rate; whereas the death penalty is disproportionately used against members of minorities and protesters, and minors are also executed;

B. whereas Mohammad Ghobadlou was executed on 23.01.2024 in connection with the nationwide protests, following a grossly unfair trial and confessions obtained under torture; whereas the Supreme Court ordered Ghobadlou´s retrial due to his mental disability; whereas the retrial never took place and Ghobadlou was executed unexpectedly;

C. Whereas the death penalty is frequently imposed based on forced confessions extracted through torture and ill-treatment and after unfair trials;

C. whereas most death sentences follow charges on drug offenses or “intentional murder”, disproportionately targeting ethnic minorities;

1. Condemns the execution of GhobadlouStrongly andcondemns the sharp spikeincrease in the use of the death penalty inby Iran;the stronglyIranian advocatesregime against its citizens to spread fear and suppress dissent, disproportionately targeting ethnic minorities, such as Kurds and Baloch; expresses its continued support for the abolition“Woman, ofLife, theFreedom” deathuprising penaltyin globally;Iran;

2. Joins UN experts’ call urging Iran to respect international law and stop horrific executions of protesters;

2. Is appalled by the arbitrary und unlawful execution of 23-year old Mohammad Ghobadlou for his participation in the protest movement; expresses its compassion with Mohammad Ghobadlou, the many other arbitrarily executed and killed and their loved ones;

3. Condemns the use of the death penalty as a tool of repression following the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising to crush dissent and terrorize the population; calls on Iran to immediately halt further executions of all individuals sentenced to death, including European citizens; reminds the Iranian authorities of their obligations under international law to prohibit death sentences against minors;

3. Urges Iran to stop using the death penalty; calls on Iran to immediately halt executions, release and retrial persons threatened with execution, like Anwar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh and Khosrow Basharat, in a due process, particularly for charges that under international law never result in capital punishment;

4. Strongly supports the campaign to abolish the death penalty launched by imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi and other women political prisoners;

4. Demands the immediate unconditional release of arbitrarily detained foreign nationals, including Johan Floderus, for whom Iran´s prosecutor demands the death penalty;

5. Strongly condemns the use of torture and other ill-treatment against defendants, including sexual violence; recalls that confessions obtained under duress must not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings;

5. Expresses its deep disturbance about reports on forced disappearance, torture, unfair trials; urges the Iranian government to cease such practices and respect the right to due process and fair trial;

6. Condemns the lack of fair trials;

6. Demands Iran to grant access to independent international observers to trials connected to the protests;

7. Condemns the Iranian government’s use of criminal procedures to punish the exercise of the rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly; calls on Iranian authorities to ensure a safe environment for activists, including women’s rights defenders;

7. Urges Iranian authorities to provide the UN Fact-Finding Mission with full, unimpeded access to enact its mandate; calls on the EU and Member States to support the mission mandate´s extension and the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on Iran´s mandate at the UN Human Rights Council;

8. Supports the extension and renewal of the mandates of the UN Fact Finding Mission on Iran and of the Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran; calls on Iran to cooperate with them, including by allowing them to enter the country and granting them access to capital trials;

8. Welcomes the 23.1.24 EEAS statement on executions in Iran; encourages the HR/VP and EU Member States to denounce Iranian authorities’ use of capital punishment, unfair trials, confessions under torture and signal Iranian officials that ending systematic impunity in Iran remains an EU priority;

9. Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that those fleeing persecution and human rights violations in Iran, including women and girls, have safe and legal pathways to the EU as well as access to fair and effective asylum procedures; calls on the EU and its Member states to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers who are survivors of torture, including of sexual violence, receive the medical and psychological treatment and social support necessary for their rehabilitation;

9. Calls on the Council to continue identifying and sanctioning perpetrators responsible for serious human rights violations;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the authorities of Iran, the EU Member States, the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EEAS and the UN.

10. Calls on EU member states to initiate criminal investigations against Iranian officials accountable for serious human rights violations, notably under universal jurisdiction;

11. Calls on the European Commission to increase technical and capacity support to Iranian civil society and allocate a larger budget for related activities, including considerable funds to implementing organisations;

12. Calls the Member States to facilitate visas, asylum and emergency grants for those who need to flee Iran, particularly women and girls;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to EU institutions, HRVP, the Member States, and Iran;