The European Parliament,

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

–   having regard to the EU Presidency statements of 4 June 2008 and 10 June 2008 on the imminent execution of juvenile offenders in Iran,

–   having regard to the Declaration of 13 June 2008 by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the execution of Mohammad Hassanzadeh,

–   having regard to the resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and, in particular, resolution 62/168 of 18 December 2007 on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty,

–   having regard to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to all of which Iran is a party,

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

A.   whereas the general human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate since 2005, and whereas executions alone almost doubled in 2007,

B.   whereas Iran and a few other countries still execute minors; whereas Iran is known to have executed more juvenile offenders than any other country in the world, and according to reports more than 100 individuals are on death row in Iran for crimes allegedly committed when under the age of 18,

C.   whereas Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a juvenile offender who was executed on 10 June 2008, was under the age of 18 at the time of execution,

D.   whereas at least four other juvenile offenders, Behnoud Shojaee, Mohammad Fedaei, Saeed Jazee and Behnam Zaare, face imminent risk of execution, however, the Iranian authorities have ordered a stay of execution of one month for two of these juvenile offenders, Behnoud Shojaee and Mohammad Fedaei,

E.   whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded the Iranian authorities on 10 June 2008 of the absolute prohibition on the application of the death penalty to juvenile offenders under international law,

F.   whereas Iranian juvenile offenders include people accused of having same-sex relations, which is subject to capital punishment in Iran,

1.  Strongly condemns the death sentences and executions in Iran, in particular those imposed or carried out on juvenile offenders and minors, and urges the Iranian authorities to respect internationally recognised legal safeguards with regard to minors;

2.  Stresses that juvenile death sentences are in direct contravention of the international obligations and commitments to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory, specifically as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both clearly prohibiting the execution of minors or people who have been convicted of crimes committed when they were minors;

3.  Condemns in the strongest possible terms the execution of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was under the age of 18 when he was executed;

4.  Urges the Iranian authorities to halt the execution of Behnoud Shojaee, Mohammad Fedaei, Saeed Jazee, Behnam Zaare and all other juvenile offenders sentenced to death;

5.  Calls on the members of the newly elected Majlis (the Iranian Parliament) speedily to pass the pending reform of the Iranian penal code, with the aim, notably, of abolishing stoning and executions of child offenders, to move towards a moratorium on the death penalty and to bring Iranian legislation into line with international human rights obligations;

6.  Calls for the decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Iran;

7.  Urges Member States to suspend the expulsion to Iran of persons who are threatened with execution or torture;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Council, the Head of the Judiciary of Iran, and the Government and Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran.