MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Iran, in particular the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh

18.1.2011

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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Fiorello Provera, Lorenzo Fontana, Mara Bizzotto, Bastiaan Belder on behalf of the EFD Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0043/2011

B7‑0043/2011

European Parliament resolution on Iran, in particular the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

 

-   having regard to the statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights defenders in Iran of 23 November 2010,

 

-   Having regard to Art. 122 of its Rules of procedures,

 

-   whereas in January 2011 Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer who has represented human rights activists, was sentenced by a court to 11 years of imprisonment, after being held for long periods in solitary confinement, and a 20-year ban on practising law and travelling abroad,

 

-   whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh was convicted of "acting against national security" of "propaganda against the regime" and "membership of Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights",

 

-   whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh has protested against her prison conditions and violations of due process,

 

-   whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern for the fate of human rights defenders in Iran and urged the Iranian authorities in November 2010 to review the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh urgently and expedite her release,

 

-   whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh has been the lawyer of the Dutch national Zahra Bahrami who was arrested after the Ashura protests on 27 December 2009 and has been recently sentenced to death by a court,

 

-   whereas since 2009 at least 15 lawyers and human rights activists have been sentenced, imprisoned or forced into exile;

 

-   whereas the authorities of Iran have an affirmative obligation to protect human rights advocates; whereas the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus in 1998, declares that states "shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of human rights defenders against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary actions" as a consequence of their legitimate effort to promote human rights,

 

1.  Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, the revoking of the unjust sentence and allow her to return to her professional activities;

 

2.  Urges the Iranian authorities to set aside the sentence imposed on Zahra Bahrami and to release her or grant her due process;

 

3.  Condemns the harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, and calls on the Iranian authorities to end these actions;

 

4.  Urges Iran to uphold, in law and in practice, procedural guarantees to ensure due process of law;

 

5.  Expresses its concern at the continuing violations by the Iranian authorities of international standards of human rights;

 

6.  Calls on the Government of Iran to cooperate fully with all international human rights mechanisms and to continue exploring cooperation on human rights and justice reform with the United Nations;

 

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Iranian Supreme Court and the Government and Parliament of Iran.