4. Strongly condemns the Iranian authorities’ violent crackdown against protesters; regrets the resulting loss of life and that people were injured while protesting and extends its condolences to the victims and their families; calls on the Iranian authorities to refrain from using disproportionate force against peaceful protesters and stresses that all serious allegations of violence against protesters must be thoroughly and independently investigated; 5. Gives its support to the young Iranian women and students leading and participating in the protests despite the difficulties and personal repercussions they are facing; strongly condemns the violence and discrimination against women in Iran and deplores that women are obliged to wear a veil against their will on pain of violent reprisals or even death; calls for an end to discriminatory laws and clothing requirements for women in Iran, including the mandatory hijab; deplores the death of Mahsa Amini and calls for a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into her death by an independent competent authority in cooperation with international organisations; 6. Calls for the release of all unlawfully detained human rights activists, journalists and other prisoners of conscience in Iran and calls for all charges against them to be dropped; reiterates its support for the aspirations of the Iranian people who want to live in a free, inclusive and democratic country that respects its national and international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Expresses grave concern about the case of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele in Iran and calls for his immediate and unconditional release and repatriation to Belgium; expresses further concern about the reported arrests of European nationals in Iran and the public threats by MOIS against the German, French, British and Swedish embassies, among others; strongly condemns the Iranian policy of hostage diplomacy and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all European and dual nationals and that all charges against them be dropped; 8. Condemns the internet disruption and censorship by the Iranian authorities as part of their crackdown against the protests; welcomes the activation of Starlink in Iran and the US decision to allow private companies to offer uncensored internet access to the country during the current protests; urges the Member States and European companies to take similar steps to facilitate internet access in Iran; 9. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including and especially for persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities due to systematic political, economic, social and cultural discrimination; calls on the Iranian authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, whether officially recognised or not, and to respect ethnic and religious minorities’ fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of conscience, so that they can exercise their full rights on an equal basis with all citizens; 10. Expresses grave concern for Ahmadreza Djalali, Vahid Afkari and all others unlawfully imprisoned in Iran; reiterates its call for their unconditional release and for all charges against them to be dropped; demands that the Iranian authorities ensure that the rights of prisoners and those arrested are protected at all times, including their ability to receive adequate medical care and full access to their families and lawyers of their own choice;

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