MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
10/01/2005
by Christa Prets, Jan Marinus Wiersma and Paulo Casaca
on behalf of the PSE Group
on Torture and Coercion in Iran
B6-0052/2005
European parliament resolution on torture and coercion in Iran
The European Parliament,
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. having regard to its previous resolution on Iran of 28. October 2004,
B. having regard to the Council meeting on 13-14 December 2004 where the Council gave its full support for a negotiation process on a long term arrangement with Iran after having taken note of the IAEA's confirmation of full suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities by Iran and with the aim of resuming these negotiations on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the provision of objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes,
C. having regard to the Council conclusions expecting action by Iran to adress also the other concerns of the EU regarding the fight against terrorism, human rights and Iran's approach to the Middle East Peace Process,
D. having regard to the resolution of the UN General Assembly of 20 December 2004 expressing concerns on the situation in Iran as regards the freedom of speach and media,
E. concerned about reports on executions beeing carried out with apparent disregard for internationally recognised safeguards including juvenile offenders and the lapidation of women;
F. concerned by reports on arbitrary arrests of journalists, cyberjournalists and webloggers, the blocking of online publications and threatening of journalists reporting on torture with lengthy prison sentences by Iranian judiciary authorities,
1. Strongly condemns death sentences and the execution of minors in Iran;
2. Calls on the Iranian authorities to give evidence that they will implement their publicly declared moratorium on stoning;
3. Condems any arbitrary arrests of journalists, cyberjournalists or webloggers and arbitrary threats of lengthy prison sentences against journalists reporting on abuse of human rights in Iran by Iranian judicial authorities;
4. Calls on the Iranian Parliament to adapt the Iranian Press Law and the Penal Code to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to monitor the human rights situation and freedom of opinion and press in Iran and raise their concerns in the EU-Iran human rights dialogue;
6. Welcomes the negotiation process with Iran on the nuclear issue as an occasion to give momentum to further progress in the EU-Iran political and human rights dialogue and economic relations;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the High Representative for CSFP, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States and the Government and Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran.