VP/HR — UN Secretary-General condemns Iran's human rights record

21.3.2014

Question for written answer E-003444-14
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Fiorello Provera (EFD)

On 11 March 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon claimed that since the election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in June 2013, the new president has failed to fulfil promises he made during his campaign to allow greater freedom of expression, and there has been a sharp increase in executions. Some people also believe that in order to appease the hardliners in the regime, the president has kept internal reform to a minimum. While many prominent human rights activists have been released, many activists, lawyers, journalists and political prisoners remain in custody for simply exercising their right to free speech and assembly.

The new administration has not made improvements in promoting and protecting freedom of expression and assembly. Since December 2013 at least 25 journalists and 16 Internet activists have been held in Iranian prisons. Some of them were arrested for providing content and developing websites for foreign elements. Moreover, Mehdi Karroubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi are still under house arrest, and Iran has not granted access to UN human rights investigators since 2005, despite repeated requests.

1. What steps is the EU taking to push for the Iranian authorities to release Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi from house arrest?

2. In tandem with the nuclear negotiations, what pressure is being brought to bear on the new administration to allow UN human rights investigators into the country?

OJ C 341, 30/09/2014