MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

22.4.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Marielle De Sarnez, Marios Matsakis
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Iran

B6‑0200/2008

European Parliament resolution on Iran

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran, notably those on human rights,

-  having regard to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1998,

-  having regard to the EU guidelines on Human rights defenders,

-  having regard to the Iranian Mother’s Committee of the One Million Signatures Petition Campaign, which seeks to put pressure on the Iranian legislators in order to withdraw provisions that have adverse effects on women’s human rights,

- 

-  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Ms Khadijeh Moghaddam, a founding member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, was arrested on 8 April 2008 and was charged at the Revolutionary Court for allegedly "spreading propaganda against the State", "disruption of public opinion" and "actions against national security",

B.  whereas Ms Khadijeh Moghaddam was released on bail after nine days,

C.  whereas, in a statement issued on 11 April 2008, hundreds of civil society activists in Iran objected to the arrest of Ms Khadijeh Moghaddam and called for her immediate and unconditional release,

D.  whereas several other women's rights defenders are being or have been prosecuted for the involvement in the One Million Signatures Campaign, which aims to collect one million signatures for a petition demanding an end to discrimination against women in Iranian laws,

E.  whereas Iran is still not a party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

1.  Welcomes the release of Ms Khadijeh Moghaddam, whose arrest and detention was arbitrary; urges the Iranian authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all other rights defenders who are currently being detained;

2.  Strongly condemns the repression against civil society movements in Iran, including women's rights defenders involved in the One Million Signatures Campaign; urges the Iranian authorities to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of these citizens and to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience;

3.  Expresses its concern about the continuous discrimination in law and in practice notably against women in Iran;

4.  Calls on the Iranian authorities to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979;

5.  Expresses its support for all democratic political forces and for civil society, especially for the women's associations which are campaigning non-violently in Iran, despite growing repression, for democracy and human rights;

6.  Calls on the Council and Commission to continue their examination of the human rights situation in Iran and to submit to Parliament, in the second half of 2008, a comprehensive report on the matter, including proposals for projects that could be financed in the framework of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the CFSP, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UNSC, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Head of the State Supreme Court of Iran, and the Government and Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran.