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

Charles Tannock, Struan Stevenson, Marek Henryk Migalski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki on behalf of the ECR Group

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

B7‑0067/2011

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

The European Parliament,

–    having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran, notably that of 10 February 2010;

 

–    having regard to its previous annual report of 23 November 2010 on human rights in the world 2009;

 

–    having regard to the joint statement by the EU and the USA of 8 February 2010 calling on the Iranian Government to fulfil its human rights obligations;

 

–    having regard to the Council statement on Iran of 10/11 December 2009;

 

–    having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Iran is a party;

 

–    having regard to the statement of 14 June by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;

 

–    having regard to the report of the UN Secretary-General of 23 September 2009 on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the statement on Iran issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 4 March 2010;

 

–    having regard to the statement on Human rights defenders in Iran by The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on 23 November 2010;

 

–    having regard to Rule 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure.

 

 

A.  whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer in Iran, was arrested on 4 September 2010 on charges of spreading propaganda and conspiring to harm state security;

 

B.   whereas subsequently, on 9 January 2011, Iranian authorities sentenced Nasrin Sotoudeh to eleven years in prison for charges that include "activities against national security" and "propaganda against the regime.";

C.  whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh has been barred from practicing law and from leaving Iran for twenty years;

 

D.  whereas Nasrin Sotoudeh is one of many Human rights defenders whom have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and imprisoned by Iranian authorities, including recently Shiva Nazarahari, co-founder of Committee of Human Rights Reporters and a prominent activist, who was sentenced On 7 January 2011 to four years in prison and 74 lashes;

 

E.   whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed on 23 November 2010 renewed concern for the fate of human rights activists in Iran and whom remains concerned that Nasrin Sotoudeh’s case is part of a much broader crackdown as a result of which the situation of human rights defenders in Iran is growing more and more difficult.

 

 

1.   Expresses serious doubts as to the legitimacy, transparency and fairness of the trial that resulted in the sentencing of Nasrin Sotoudeh and to the proportionality of the sentence;

 

2.   Calls on the Iranian Parliament to amend the Iranian law allowing the government to deny due-process rights, such as the right of defendants to adequate legal representation;

 

3.   Calls for the immediate release of all those detained by the Iranian authorities for defending human rights within Iran;

 

4.   Continues to be concerned that the human rights dialogue with Iran has been interrupted since 2004 due to a lack of cooperation from Iran, calls on the Iranian authorities to resume this dialogue with a view to ensuring the sustainability of those reforms and consolidate the involvement of all Iranian human rights defenders and civil society representatives in policy-making processes, reinforcing the role played by them in the general political discourse;

 

5.   Remains greatly concerned that Iran has continued to suppress independent human rights defenders and members of civil society, and that serious violations of human rights have persisted, even increased; condemns the arbitrary arrest, torture and imprisonment of human rights defenders for their work, on the charge of "activities contrary to national security";

 

6.   Reminds the Iranian authorities that in order to develop fruitful relations with the EU, Iran must guarantee fundamental human rights and respect for the principles of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law, as this is a prerequisite for all countries which maintain political and economic relations with the EU; emphasises that the possible conclusion of a cooperation and trade agreement between Iran and the EU is contingent on respect for these values,

 

7.   Calls on the Commission and Council to devise additional measures in the context of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and European immigration policy in order actively to protect Iranian human rights defenders;

 

8.   Pays tribute to the courage of all those Iranian citizens who actively seek to defend the human rights of others;

 

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