What changed

B90122/2024

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 itsRules previous144(5) resolutionsand on132(4) Iran,of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

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;

A. whereas scores of Iranians have taken to the streets across Iran to protest the brutal regime, including since the death of Mahsa Amini; whereas Iran has weaponised criminal proceedings and the death penalty to stamp out dissent, and its use of the death penalty amounts to state-sanctioned killing;

B. whereas the appeal by Mohammad Ghobadlou, a 23-year-old with intellectual disabilities, against his death sentence was rejected on 23 January 2024 and he was executed; whereas his unfair trial was marred by torture allegations and secrecy;

B. whereas Mohammad Ghobadlou’s appeal against his death penalty was rejected on 23 January 2024 and he was executed the same day; whereas his unfair trial for allegedly killing a police officer during nationwide protests in September 2022, has been marred by torture allegations; whereas Ghobadlou’s unlawful execution marks at least the ninth in connection to the “woman, life, freedom” uprising in Iran;

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;

C. whereas in recent weeks, several Kurdish political prisoners have also been arbitrarily executed, after they received grossly unfair and secretive trials; whereas the Iranian authorities have refused to return their and Ghobadlou’s bodies to their families for burial;

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

D. whereas Iran has reportedly executed over 800 people in 2023, the highest figure since 2015, and the highest per capita globally; whereas Iranian courts routinely fail to provide fair trials, accept confessions obtained under torture, do not allow medical care to prisoners, and restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel; whereas Iran’s police and security forces perpetrate widespread torture, rape and cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment against detainees in prisons, often leading to their deaths;

1. Strongly condemns the executions of peaceful demonstrators in Iran, including that of Mohammad Ghobadlou; 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;

E. whereas Iran routinely uses hostage diplomacy as a foreign policy tool, including in the cases of Dr Ahmedreza Djalali and Johan Floderus, who both face possible execution;

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;

F. whereas Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism; whereas since the protests, Iranian intelligence services have increased surveillance and intimidation against Iranian diaspora in Europe;

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

1. Strongly condemns the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou as well as others recently executed by the Iranian regime and extends its condolences to their families; calls for the release of their bodies for burial;

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;

2. Deplores the regime’s weaponisation of the death penalty to stamp out dissent and stresses that it amounts to state-sanctioned killing; calls on the authorities to abolish the death penalty;

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;

3. Calls for the unconditionally release all those at risk of execution in Iran, including Ahmadreza Djalali and Johan Floderus; calls furthermore for the unconditional release of all those unlawfully detained, including prisoners of conscience;

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;

4. Reiterates its support for the aspirations of the Iranian people who want to live in a free, inclusive and democratic country; calls on the Iranian authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities;

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;

5.8. Calls on the CouncilMember toStates imposeto furtherinitiate sanctionscriminal oninvestigations Iranianinto officials who haveresponsible committedfor serious human rights violations, including who are responsible for executions and arbitrary detentions; calls on the Council to list with urgency the IRGC on the EUunder terroruniversal list;jurisdiction;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the relevant parties.

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;

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;

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