MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Human rights situation in Iran, particularly mass execution and recent death of the blogger Sattar Beheshti
20.11.2012 - (2012/2877(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Geoffrey Van Orden on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0500/2012
B7‑0505/2012
European Parliament resolution on Human rights situation in Iran, particularly mass execution and recent death of the blogger Sattar Beheshti
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran, notably those concerning human rights, and in particular those of 7 September 2010, 20 January 2011, 17 November 2011, and 14 June 2012
– having regard to numerous statements on the situation in Iran by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs,
– having regard to UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/9 establishing a mandate for a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran,
– having regard to the Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton of 23 October 2012 on ten recent executions in Iran and the statements of 23 October 2012 by the Special Rapporteurs for Iran on the same issue,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to all of which Iran is a party,
– having regard to the appointment by the President of the UN Human Rights Council on 17 June 2011 of Ahmed Shaheed as UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran and to the interim report of 23 September 2011 submitted by the Special Rapporteur to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly on the situation of human rights in Iran,
– having regard to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, submitted by the Rapporteur to the United Nations Human Rights Council, 6 March 2012
– having regard to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and in particular Articles 23 to 27 and 32 to 35 thereof, which provide for freedom of expression, assembly and association and the right to practise one's religion and basic rights for persons indicted and detained,
– having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti was arrested on 30 October for alleged cybercrimes or "actions against national security on social networks and Facebook" and, during his detention, he claimed in a letter that he was being mistreated and subject to threats, insults and beatings,
B. Whereas Beheshti subsequently died while in custody on 3 November following which three interrogators involved in the case have been arrested and Iran's judiciary chief, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, had ordered a full inquiry into the death,
C. Whereas Iranian Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Hasan Abutorabifard declared on 11 November that the Iranian Parliament's committee on national security and foreign policy would investigate the case,
D. Whereas Iran continues to carry out arrests on political activists, lawyers, students, journalists, bloggers, filmmakers, religious and ethnic minorities thereby stifling freedom of speech,
E. Whereas the Iranian Cyber Police Force, inaugurated in January 2011 in Tehran, continues to monitor political activists by enforcing repressive legislation, such as regulations issued in January 2012 which require owners of internet cafés to install CCTV cameras and to register the identity and contact details of users before allowing them to use their computers,
F. Whereas Iran restricts internet freedom by restricting bandwidth, developing state-run servers, specific internet protocols (IPs), internet service providers (ISPs) and search engines and blocks international and domestic social networking sites,
G. Whereas on 22 October 2012 ten Iranian individuals arrested on charges of drug offences were executed in spite of evidence suggesting that most of them did not receive a fair trial and were subjected to torture during their detention,
H. Whereas since the beginning of 2012, Iran has carried out over 300 executions, most of which have taken place after summary trials, without the right to appeal and for offences which, according to international minimum standards, should not result in capital punishment,
1. Expresses grave concern over the continual lack of respect for human rights in Iran due to systematic political, economic, social and cultural discrimination against those deemed by the Iranian authorities to be engaged in activities related to political opposition;
2. Calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure fairness and transparency of the judicial process for all citizens of Iran and that those undergoing trial are tried according to international fair trial standards, that detainees are protected from torture and other ill-treatment and that they are allowed regular access to legal counsel;
3. Urges the Government of Iran to ensure that its investigations into the death of Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti are independent, thorough and impartial and to investigate in particular the allegations of torture, and to make the result of such an investigation public;
4. Notes with concern that Iran has executed over 300 individuals this year alone, in spite of evidence suggesting that international standards for fair trials have not been met; deeply regrets in this instance that there is no evidence to suggest that such a deplorable situation is set to change in the future;
5. Notes that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a State party following ratification in 1975, requires compliance with the most rigorous fair trial standards in cases where death sentences are imposed, and in the absence of such standards calls on Iran, once more, to halt pending executions and to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty;
6. Pays tribute to the courage of all Iranians who are fighting in defence of fundamental freedoms, human rights and democratic principles on behalf of ethnic minorities within Iran and who wish to live in a society free from repression, intimidation and persecution;
7. Believes that a visit by a special UN Rapporteur may help to establish an overview of the situation of Human Rights in Iran; Notes with concern that Iran has not accepted any visits by UN special rapporteurs or the High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2005; Calls on Iran to honour its stated intention to allow a visit during 2012 by Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed;
8. Calls on the government of Iran to guarantee civil, political and human rights for all of its citizens;
9. 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.