What changed

B90109/2024

P9_TA(2024)0071

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

(2024/2551(RSP))

PE756.844

European Parliament resolution of 8 February 2024 on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou (2024/2551(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rules 144144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

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

A. whereas over 800 individuals were executed in Iran in 2023, the highest figure since 2015, and over 500 protesters were killed as part of the ongoing suppression of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement; whereas minorities are disproportionately affected;

B. whereas Mohammad Ghobadlouthe wasappeal executedby onMohammad 23.01.2024Ghobadlou, ina connection23-year-old with the nationwide protests, following a grosslyintellectual unfairdisabilities, trialagainst andhis confessionsdeath obtainedsentence underwas torture;rejected whereason the23 SupremeJanuary Court2024 orderedand Ghobadlou´she retrialwas dueexecuted; towhereas his mental disability;unfair whereastrial thewas retrialmarred neverby tooktorture placeallegations and Ghobadlou was executed unexpectedly;secrecy;

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

C. whereas the UNHRC reported that at least 54 people were executed in January 2024; whereas, according to Human Rights Watch, at least 11 prisoners, including Anwar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh and Khosrow Basharat, are currently at risk of imminent execution;

1. Strongly condemns the sharp increase in the use of the death penalty by the Iranian regime against its citizens to spread fear and suppress dissent, disproportionately targeting ethnic minorities, such as Kurds and Baloch; expresses its continued support for the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Iran;

D. whereas Iran routinely uses hostage diplomacy as a foreign policy tool;

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;

1. Strongly condemns the executions of peaceful demonstrators in Iran, including that of Mohammad Ghobadlou; deplores the regime’s extensive use of the death penalty to terrorise society and stamp out dissent; stresses that it amounts to state-sanctioned killing; urges Iran to commute all death sentences and completely abolish the death penalty; reiterates its firm opposition to the death penalty at all times under all circumstances; fully supports the abolition campaign launched by imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi; reiterates its continued support for Iran’s ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement;

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;

2. Calls for the unconditional and immediate release of everyone arbitrarily on death row and all prisoners of conscience, including EU nationals, notably Ahmadreza Djalali and Johan Floderus;

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

3. Calls for a new and bold EU strategy on Iran, including countering its hostage diplomacy;

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;

4. Reiterates its unwavering call on the Council to designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation and impose further EU sanctions on officials and entities involved in serious human rights violations, including the Supreme Leader, the President and the Prosecutor-General;

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

5. Reiterates its condemnation of Iran’s brutal repression of peaceful protesters, in particular women and minorities; calls for an impartial, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of human rights violations against protesters;

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;

6. Calls on Iran to uphold due process; condemns the appalling detention conditions, widespread use of torture, including sexual violence, and lack of access to medical treatment and legal representation;

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;

7. Urges the Member States to monitor trials and organise visits to prisons where prisoners of conscience are detained, including EU nationals, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders;

9.8. Calls on the CouncilMember States to continueinitiate identifyingcriminal andinvestigations sanctioninginto perpetratorsofficials responsible for serious human rights violations;violations, including under universal jurisdiction;

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

9. Urges the Commission to increase technical and budgetary support for a strong and independent Iranian civil society; calls on the Member States to facilitate visas, asylum and emergency grants for those who need to flee Iran;

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;

10. Calls on the Member States to support the renewal of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session;

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

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR and the Iranian authorities.

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