Debate: Iran, in particular the case of  Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh
Date: THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2020
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

The European Union is closely following human rights developments in Iran, and we are acutely aware of the deterioration that has occurred over the past year. Iran’s execution of dissident Ruhollah Zam last Saturday is of course deeply worrying. As noted in the statement issued by the spokesperson for the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Union condemns this act in the strongest terms and recalls once again its irrevocable opposition to the use of capital punishment under any circumstances. Iran continues to execute more than 200 individuals every year. We believe that it is imperative for the Iranian authorities to uphold the due process rights of accused individuals and to cease the practice of using televised confessions to establish and promote their guilt.  All individuals found to have been involved in serious human rights violations, including during the response to the November 2019 protests in Iran, should be held accountable. While we recognise that Iran continues to host hundreds of thousands of refugees, the human rights situation in Iran remains deeply concerning. The authorities’ repression of peaceful protest and other gatherings continues unabated. Such repression, the restriction of fundamental freedoms, and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities are features of life for too many Iranian citizens. Iran also continues to hold a number of EU—Iranian dual nationals on doubtful grounds, following trials where the due process rights of the accused were not respected in full.  This includes Ahmadreza Djalali – whose situation many Members of this House are following – who remains at risk of imminent execution and whose life we ask be spared.  We regularly engage with the authorities to urge improvements in the human rights situation in Iran as part of our comprehensive policy towards Iran. This includes asking that the repression of human rights lawyers and defenders, peaceful protesters, ethnic and religious minorities cease, and that individuals detained as a result of their advocacy for universally recognised human rights be freed.  Iran should uphold its domestic and international commitments on human rights, including the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, to which it is party. We have been vocal in this demand, including at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and through public statements whenever justified.  As the EU, we will continue to call for the release of all arbitrarily detained EU-Iranian dual nationals and Iranian human rights defenders. We also call on Iran to ensure that no individual is detained arbitrarily, that those who are detained are not subject to any form of mistreatment. All detained individuals should also have timely access to a lawyer of their own and to adequate medical care. This is particularly relevant to the cases of the eight environmentalists who have been detained since January 2018. One of these individuals, Morad Tahbaz, continues to experience severe health problems.  We are encouraged by the attention paid to these issues by individual Members of the European Parliament, and we will continue with our efforts to work together with you in order to promote access to fundamental human rights in Iran and across the world.