EP resolutions
Resolution on Brutal repression against protesters in Iran (22/01/2026)
On 22 January 2026, the European Parliament adopted in plenary a resolution condemning the Iranian authorities' brutal repression of nationwide protests, including mass killings, executions, arbitrary detentions and internet shutdowns.
Adopted by 562 votes in favour, 9 against and 57 abstentions, the resolution expresses Parliament's solidarity with the Iranian people, calls for an immediate end to violence and the release of political prisoners, urges strengthened EU restrictive measures, and stresses that any normalisation of relations with Iran must be conditional on genuine progress towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Resolution on the case of Dr Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran (2025/2753(RSP))
The European Parliament condemned Iran's continued detention and death sentence of Swedish-Iranian academic Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, imprisoned since 2016 after a torture-induced confession and unfair trial. It demanded his immediate release, access to proper medical care, and an end to Iran's use of executions and "hostage diplomacy." Parliament urged Sweden, the EEAS and Member States to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Djalali and other EU nationals held in Iran. It reiterated calls to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, extend sanctions to officials responsible for human rights abuses, and ensure that any EU-Iran engagement is conditional on progress in human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Resolution on the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and taking of EU citizens as hostages
The European Parliament condemned Iran's worsening human rights situation, including over 900 executions in 2024 and the persecution of women, minorities, and activists. It denounced the death sentences of Kurdish activists Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, calling for their immediate release along with all political prisoners and EU nationals held under Iran's "hostage diplomacy". Parliament reiterated its opposition to the death penalty, urged stronger EU support for Iranian civil society and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, and called to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and sanction senior Iranian officials responsible for repression.
Resolution on the execution spree in Iran and confirmation of the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani (2025/2628(RSP))
The EP condemned Iran's ongoing execution spree -- the highest per capita in the world -- and the worsening human rights situation marked by repression of women, minorities and dissidents. It deplored the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, both tortured and denied fair trials, and called for their immediate release along with all political prisoners and those on death row. Parliament denounced Iran's use of executions, torture and hostage diplomacy, demanded freedom for detained EU nationals, and urged that abolition of the death penalty become a condition for any improvement in EU-Iran relations. It reiterated the call to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, and strengthen EU support for Iranian civil society and human rights defenders.
Resolution on the increasing and systematic repression of women in Iran (2024/2951(RSP))
The European Parliament condemned the growing and systematic repression of women in Iran, particularly under President Pezeshkian, and denounced the 2024 "hijab and chastity" law as a further step in institutionalised discrimination. It deplored cases like that of student Ahoo Daryaei, detained and committed to a psychiatric facility for protesting compulsory veiling, calling such acts a form of torture. Parliament demanded the repeal of all discriminatory laws, the abolition of the "morality" police, and the release of all women's rights defenders and Bahá'í women arbitrarily detained. It reiterated its call to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, urged full UN access to investigate human rights violations, and called on the EU and Member States to continue supporting Iran's Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
Resolution on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou (2024/2551(RSP))
The European Parliament condemned the sharp rise in executions in Iran, including the case of 23-year-old Mohammad Ghobadlou, executed after an unfair trial marked by torture allegations. It denounced Iran's use of the death penalty to silence dissent and demanded an immediate moratorium and abolition. MEPs called for the release of all prisoners of conscience and EU nationals held in Iran, urged a new EU strategy to counter Tehran's "hostage diplomacy", and reiterated the call to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. The resolution condemned torture, inhumane detention conditions, and repression of women and minorities, urged independent investigations into human rights abuses, and called for stronger EU and UN support to Iranian civil society and human rights defenders.
Resolution on Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (2024/2704(RSP))
The European Parliament strongly condemned Iran's large-scale drone and missile attack on Israel in April 2024, calling it a serious threat to regional stability. It reaffirmed Israel's right to security while urging restraint and de-escalation by all parties. Parliament welcomed the EU's decision to expand sanctions on Iran's missile and drone production and urged further measures, including listing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. It denounced Iran's human rights abuses, nuclear violations, and support for Russia's war in Ukraine and regional proxies. MEPs called for the release of EU nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran, stronger EU action against transnational repression, and increased support for Iranian civil society, women and human rights defenders.
Resolution on the latest attacks against women and women’s rights defenders in Iran, and Iran’s arbitrary detention of EU nationals (2023/2979(RSP))
The European Parliament condemned Iran's systematic repression of women and its use of arbitrary detention, torture and executions. It denounced the killings of Mahsa Jina Amini and Armita Geravand, the persecution of women's rights defenders such as Nasrin Sotoudeh and Narges Mohammadi, and called for the withdrawal of the compulsory veiling law.
Parliament also criticised Iran's "hostage diplomacy", demanding the immediate release of detained EU nationals, including Johan Floderus, and urged the EU to impose sanctions on those responsible -- including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei -- and to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Iran: in particular the poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls
Referring to numerous incidents since November 2022, where thousands of girls and women across Iran have been attacked with toxic chemicals to prevent them from attending education, MEPs condemn in the strongest terms this atrocious attempt to silence women and girls.
Urging authorities to ensure girls have non-discriminatory access to education, MEPs call on the Iranian regime to repeal any legislation that discriminates against girls and women.
They urge the UN Human Rights Council to task the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission with an independent investigation into the schoolgirl poisonings and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The resolution was adopted on 16 March 2023 by 516 votes in favour, 5 against and 14 abstentions.[..]
EU response to the protests and executions in Iran, 19 January 2023
All those responsible for human rights violations should face EU sanctions and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be on the EU terrorist list, MEPs urge. The Iranian regime's blatant disregard for human dignity and the democratic aspirations of its own citizens as well as its support to Russia "necessitate further adjustments in the EU's position towards Iran", says a resolution adopted on Thursday 19 January 2023.
MEPs urge the EU to expand its sanctions list to cover all individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations and their family members, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Ebrahim Raisi, Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri and all foundations ('bonyads') linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG).
They also call on the Council and the member states to add the IRGC and its subsidiary forces, including the paramilitary Basij militia and the Quds Force, to the EU terrorist list.
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