On systemic oppression, inhumane conditions and arbitrary detentions by the regime in Iran

B100133/2026

European Parliament resolution on systemic oppression, inhumane conditions and arbitrary detentions by the regime in Iran

(2026/2612(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas the recent coordinated, top-down campaign of brutal violence, ordered by Iran’s theocratic leader Khamenei and directed by senior leadership of the Iranian regime, has according to preliminary estimates led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths; whereas also EU citizens have been killed, including Iranian-Swedish national Ehsan Afshari;

whereas the documented acts—including mass killings, targeted lethal force, abandonment of the wounded, attacks on hospitals, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, coercion of families, and state-directed misinformation—meet the threshold for crimes against humanity under international law;

Whereas during the protests thousands of individuals were arbitrarily arrested and are held incommunicado, without access to legal counsel or medical care; whereas Iran holds one of the largest populations of political prisoners in the world;

whereas arbitrary arrests, vague charges, unfair trials, and illegal detentions are common practice in Iran; whereas confessions are frequently extracted under torture, threats, or psychological pressure while political prisoners report sexual assault, beatings, sleep deprivation, overcrowding and denial of medical care;

whereas Iran pursues a deliberate and institutionalized strategy of hostage diplomacy; whereas European-Iranian dual nationals and foreign nationals continue to be arrested, receive unfair trials, are placed in solitary confinement and sentenced based on false and vague espionage charges;

whereas the human rights situation in Iran keeps worsening, including the systemic targeting of women, children and ethnic and religious minorities, such as Christians, Baha’is, Kurds and Baluchis;

Reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of and outrage at the brutal repression and mass murders perpetrated by the Iranian regime against protesters; expresses its full solidarity with the people of Iran; demands further decisive action in the face of the regime’s systematic and brutal repression of the Iranian people;

Calls for the immediate release of all imprisoned demonstrators and political prisoners, that are imprisoned on false charges or for solely exercising their rights;

Firmly calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure that the rights of prisoners are protected at all times, including access to medical care, family visits, and legal representation of their choice;

Remains deeply concerned about systematic repression of ethnic and religious minorities, women and dissidents in Iran - that face arbitrary arrest and detention, unfair trials and lengthy imprisonment - through laws and regulations that severely restrict their freedoms and rights;

Condemns Iran’s hostage diplomacy; demands Iran to immediately and unconditionally release all detained European (dual) nationals; urges the EU and its Member States to develop a comprehensive strategy to counter hostage diplomacy, including with a dedicated task force on Iran to better assist detainees’ families and effectively prevent further hostage-taking;

Welcomes the Council decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation and the further extension of EU sanctions to those responsible for the atrocities committed;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Iran.