MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the execution spree in Iran and the confirmation of the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani
1.4.2025 - (2025/2628(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Daniel Attard, Evin Incir
on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B10-0220/2025
B10‑0225/2025
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the execution spree in Iran and the confirmation of the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran;
– having regard to its rule of procedure 150(5);
A. whereas political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani are at imminent risk of execution in Ghezel Hesar prison; whereas a request for a judicial review was rejected in February 2025;
B. whereas the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran has upheld the execution sentence of the humanitarian worker Pakhshan Azizi, and has sentenced to death Wirishe Moradi, who fought against the Islamic State in North-East Syria;
C. whereas human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi is at risk of execution after being sentenced to death in February 2025 for her activities, including supporting women’s and workers’ rights;
D. whereas death penalty continues to be retained for acts protected by freedom of expression, religion or belief, including drinking alcohol and consensual same-sex relationships; whereas sexual relationships outside marriage remain punishable by stoning to death;
E. whereas since the Woman Life Freedom uprising in 2022, the Iranian authorities have embarked on a brutal killing escalation, using the death penalty as a tool of oppression against protesters, dissidents and ethnic minorities;
1. strongly condemns the sentence to death against political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, on charges of armed rebellion against the state, enmity against God and corruption; urges to immediately halt any plans to execute them; denounces their arbitrary detention and the severe violations of fair trial rights;
2. recalls its recent position decrying the decision by the Supreme Court of Iran to uphold the execution sentence for humanitarian workers and human rights defenders Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi;
3. expresses strong preoccupation for the conviction and death sentence against trade unionist Sharifeh Mohammadi;
4. is particularly concerned for the continuous political oppression against Baha'i human rights defenders; recalls in particular the case of Mahvash Sabet, who’s sentenced to prison despite critical heart conditions;
5. firmly condemns the systematic repression and deliberate deterioration of human rights in Iran, characterized by a severe crackdown on protests and freedom of expression, escalation of executions, suppression of women's rights, persecution of ethnic and religious minorities;
6. expresses deep concern over the unprecedented rise in executions, particularly of women, and calls on the EU and its Member States to pursue all available measures, including targeted sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for human rights violations; demand to establish a moratorium on death sentences;
7. urges the Iranian authorities to immediately release, safely repatriate and drop all charges against condemned EU nationals, including French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, as well as Swedish national Ahmadreza Djalali; strongly condemns the Islamic Republic’s use of hostage diplomacy and inhumane detention conditions;
8. Reiterates its call on the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.