MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Situation of the ethnic minorities in Iran

12.6.2012 - (2012/2682(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a 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, Jaroslav Paška, Juozas Imbrasas on behalf of the EFD Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0309/2012

B7‑0309/2012

European Parliament resolution on the Situation of the ethnic minorities in Iran

(2012/2682(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-         having regard to its previous resolutions on the Iran, notably those concerning human rights,

-         having regard to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran of 6 March 2012,

-         having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), to all of which Iran is a party,

 

-        having regard to Rule 122 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.       whereas the current human rights situation in Iran is characterised by an ongoing pattern of systematic violations of fundamental rights; whereas minorities in Iran continue to be discriminated against and harassed due to their religious or ethnic background;

 

B.        whereas ethnic minorities in Iran continue to be subjected to intense socio-economic discrimination and pressures, including land and property confiscation, denial of employment and restrictions on social, cultural and linguistic rights, in violation of the ICERD and the ICESCR; whereas in recent months minority groups have demonstrated for the respect of their rights, which has led to the imprisonment of many participants in these demonstrations;

 

C.       whereas Kurdish activists have been sentenced to death in Iran on charges including "acting against national security", "corruption on earth" and "espionage";

 

D.       whereas Members of the Baloch, a Sunni religious community and ethnic minority, are subjected to multifaceted discrimination, harassment, mistreatment, arbitrary arrest and executions;

 

E.        whereas ethnic Arabs in Khuzestan province have been arrested in 2011, allegedly in response to their calls for a boycott of upcoming parliamentary elections and anti-Government slogans;

 

F.        whereas the rate of executions in Iran in 2011 (360 executions acknowledged by official sources) and during the first 5 months of 2012 confirmed the country as one of the world's leading users of the death penalty; whereas thousands of individuals remain at risk of execution, even for acts which are not considered as among the most serious crimes according to international minimum standards;

1.        Expresses grave concern over the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Iran; the growing number of political prisoners, the continuously high number of executions, including of juveniles, the widespread torture, unfair trials and exorbitant sums demanded for bail, and the heavy restrictions on freedom of information, expression, assembly, belief, education and movement;

2.        Urges the Iranian authorities to amend the provisions of the Constitution, the Islamic Penal Code, the Civil Code and to bring them in  conformity with the provisions of the ICERD as well as the ICCPR and the ICESCR and to protect all religious minorities, including Christians; to stop in practice the discrimination and harassment of non-Muslims, the Sunni Muslims,  ethnic minorities and the systematic persecution of the Baha’i minority;  to take specific measures to ensure the right of all citizens to education, employment,  public services and housing rights, regardless of their race, colour, descent, national or  ethnic origin, language, religion or belief; 

 

3.        Calls on the Iranian authorities to release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, to allow public criticism or advocacy, and to accept peaceful protests;

4.        Strongly condemns the use of the death penalty in Iran and calls on the Iranian authorities, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions 62/149 and 63/138, to institute a moratorium on executions, pending the abolition of the death penalty;

 

5.       Calls on the Iranian authorities to demonstrate that they are fully committed to cooperating with the international community in improving the human rights situation in Iran; stresses the need for closer engagement with the Human Rights Council and United Nations human rights mechanisms;

6.       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 Office of the Supreme Leader, the President of the Iranian Supreme Court and the Government and Parliament of Iran.