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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2020/2914(RSP))

On Iran, in particular the case of 2012 Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh

B-9-2020-0444

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Raffaele Fitto, Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Assita Kanko, Joanna Kopcińska, Elżbieta Kruk, Elżbieta Rafalska, Bogdan Rzońca, Hermann Tertsch, Valdemar Tomaševski, Evžen Tošenovský, Alexandr Vondra, Veronika Vrecionová, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Charlie Weimers, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Jan Zahradil

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution on Iran focuses on the case of 2012 Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh and other prisoners. It calls for her immediate and unconditional release, along with Ahmadreza Djalali, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Farhad Meysami, Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi and Golrokh Iraeee. It deplores Iran's abuse of the criminal justice system, the executions of Ruhollah Zam and Navid Afkari, and the deteriorating human rights situation, especially for ethnic and religious minorities. It calls on the Iranian authorities to halt future executions, respect freedom of expression and assembly, and end discrimination against minorities. It welcomes the EU Magnitsky Act and calls for restrictive measures against Iranian officials involved in unfair trials, detentions and executions, and further sanctions if Ahmadreza Djalali is not freed. It calls on the EU and the VP/HR to continue raising human rights with Iran in bilateral and multilateral forums.

Key points

  1. Parliament strongly supports the aspirations of the Iranian people for a free, stable, prosperous, inclusive and democratic country that respects human rights.
  2. It deplores Iran's abuse of the criminal justice system to repress peaceful human rights activities and calls for a safe environment for human rights defenders.
  3. It calls on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Nasrin Sotoudeh, Ahmadreza Djalali, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Farhad Meysami, Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Golrokh Iraeee and all others imprisoned on false charges.
  4. It deplores the executions of Ruhollah Zam and Navid Afkari and calls on the Iranian authorities to halt any future executions.
  5. It stresses that freedom of expression and assembly must be respected and calls on Iran to live up to its international obligations, including under the ICCPR.
  6. It welcomes the EU Magnitsky Act and calls for restrictive measures against Iranian officials involved in unfair trials, detentions and executions, and further sanctions if Ahmadreza Djalali is not freed.
  7. It strongly condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, especially for ethnic and religious minorities, and the escalation in the use of the death penalty against protesters, dissidents and minority groups.
  8. It expresses grave concern over coerced confessions, lack of access to legal representation during interrogations, abuse during pre-charge and pre-trial detention, and trials of civilians before revolutionary courts.
  9. It reminds Iran that respect for human rights is a core component of EU-Iran relations and calls for an end to intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders, including for communicating with EU and UN officials.
  10. It calls on the EU, including the VP/HR, to continue raising human rights with Iran in bilateral and multilateral forums, particularly in the EU-Iran high-level political dialogue.
  11. It calls on Iran to eliminate all forms of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities and to allow them to exercise all rights under the Iranian constitution and international law, including the ICCPR and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Who is affected

  • Nasrin Sotoudeh, Ahmadreza Djalali, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Farhad Meysami, Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Golrokh Iraeee and all others imprisoned on false charges: Parliament calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
  • Iranian authorities: called on to halt executions, respect freedom of expression and assembly, end discrimination against minorities, and stop intimidation of human rights defenders.
  • Iranian officials involved in unfair trials, detentions and executions: Parliament calls for EU restrictive measures against them.
  • Ethnic and religious minorities in Iran: Parliament demands an end to all forms of discrimination and respect for their rights.
  • EU institutions, including the VP/HR: called on to continue raising human rights with Iran in bilateral and multilateral forums.

Figures and deadlines

  • 13 June 2018: date Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested.
  • 7 November: date Nasrin Sotoudeh was temporarily released following a positive COVID-19 test.
  • 2 December: date Nasrin Sotoudeh was ordered to return to Qarchak prison.
  • 12 December 2020: date Ruhollah Zam was executed in Iran.
  • 12 September 2020: date Navid Afkari was murdered and executed.
  • 7 October 2020: date of recent statements by HRVP Borrell on Iran.
  • 9 December 2020: date of statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.
  • 2019: year of the most recent Universal Periodic Review on Iran.