MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Iran, notably the case of human rights defenders
12.3.2019 - (2019/2611(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Karol Karski, Ryszard Czarnecki, Monica Macovei, Ruža Tomašić, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Jana Žitňanskáon behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0186/2019
B8‑0193/2019
European Parliament resolution on Iran, notably the case of human rights defenders
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran;
- having regard to the previous reports and statements by the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran;
- having regard to the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;
- having regard to statements by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission on the situation in Iran, including that of 15 February 2019;
- having regard to the Council conclusions of 4 February 2019 on the situation in Iran;
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948;
- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966;
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the death penalty;
- having regard to United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the death penalty;
- having regard to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief of 1981;
- having regard to the Universal Periodic Review on Iran, conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2014;
- having regard to the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 17 December 2018 on the human rights situation in Iran;
- having regard to the International Declaration on the Protection of Journalists, presented to the International Press Institute World Congress in Doha in 2016;
- having regard to the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council of 29 September 2016 on the safety of journalists;
- having regard to the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline, adopted by the Council in May 2014;
- having regard to the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2018;
- having regard to the United Nations Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those facing the Death Penalty;
- having regard to the statement by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of 13 February 2019 on the detention of six human rights lawyers in Iran;
- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights;
- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
- having regard to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998;
- having regard to the Council decision of 12 April 2018 to extend its restrictive measures for a further 12 months in response to serious human rights violations in Iran;
- having regard to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure;
A. whereas the conclusion and implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) provides an opportunity to improve relations and mutual trust between the European Union, its Member States, international partners, and the Islamic Republic of Iran after years of isolation and suspicion;
B. whereas its resolution of 25 October 2016 on the EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement stressed the importance of upholding the EU human rights guidelines, including on human rights defenders, in the context of EU-Iran relations;
C. whereas the promotion of regional peace, security, and stability through dialogue and engagement is a central part of engagement between the European Union, its Member States, and Iran;
D. whereas at the end of December 2017, thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest against poverty, corruption and political repression, in the first anti-establishment demonstrations on such a scale since 2009;
E. whereas Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organisation have increased their targeting of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and online activists since the December 2017 protests; whereas those detained face charges that could lead to long jail terms or even the death penalty;
F. whereas Iranian authorities have held several environmentalists working for the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation for more than a year on national security charges;
G. whereas Iranian courts, and particularly revolutionary courts, regularly fall short of providing fair trials and use confessions obtained under torture as evidence in court; whereas authorities also routinely restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel, particularly during the investigation period;
H. whereas several individuals charged with national security crimes have suffered from a lack of adequate access to medical care in detention;
I. whereas Iranian authorities have systematically targeted journalists, including those working for the BBC Persian service, and their families, through the use of criminal investigations, asset freezes, arbitrary arrest, detention, surveillance, harassment, and by spreading false, malicious, and defamatory publicity;
J. whereas the EU and Iran have started working towards renewing a bilateral human rights dialogue while several human rights defenders served prison sentences imposed for communicating with EU and UN officials; whereas several national governments including Australia, Sweden and Switzerland have also started bilateral human rights dialogues with Iran;
K. whereas Iran has not ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolition of the death penalty;
L. whereas Iranian President Hassan Rohani has launched a Charter for Citizens' Rights Charter in December 2016; whereas the charter is not legally binding;
M. whereas the Charter on Citizens’ Rights and the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran both recognise the right to peaceful protest;
N. whereas Iran is ranked 164th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2018; whereas state control of news and information in Iran has been relentless for more than four decades;
O. whereas members of the Baha’i faith face widespread restrictions on their civil, political and human rights, including restrictions on employment, education, and freedom of worship;
P. whereas the Iranian authorities have also restricted cultural and political activities among the country’s Azeri, Kurdish, Arab, and Baluch minorities;
1. Believes the conclusion and implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is primarily intended to prevent any proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran, helping to prevent an arms race in the region, and to preserve the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;
2. Underlines that the improvement in relations must be based on trust, and signs of Iran’s willingness to abide by international law and conventions to which it is party;
3. Believes it is equally important that both sides engage in positive dialogue, without pre-conditions, on issues where they have differences;
4. Condemns the targeting of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and online activists by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian authorities through harassment, arbitrary arrest, denial of access to legal counsel, and other measures designed to suppress their right to peaceful protest, freedom of speech, and other legal activities aimed at highlighting legitimate concerns within Iranian society;
5. Is deeply concerned about frequent violations of fair trial guarantees, especially in the Revolutionary Courts, and fully supports the creation of an environment in Iran which is conducive to the proper functioning of civil society organisations, including a reformed legal framework;
6. Expresses concern over the use of coerced confessions as well as detainees’ inability to access legal representation during interrogations, serious allegations of abuse during pre-charge and pre-trial detention, and the trial of civilians before revolutionary courts; stresses that independence from political interference and ensuring a free trial are key in developing a modern code of criminal procedure and essential in addressing human rights issues;
7. Calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission to raise concerns about human rights, including the persecution of activists and journalists, in their bilateral discussions with Iran;
8. Supports actions by the European Union and its Member States to escalate concerns about the human rights situation in Iran at United Nations level, including at the next UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva;
9. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of environmentalists working for the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and other human rights defenders jailed for campaigning to protect civil liberties in Iran;
10. Believes freedom of expression and of the media are cornerstones of a functioning, modern democracy, demands that the authorities in Iran stop arresting, harassing, and prosecuting journalists, online activists, and their families, and calls for the creation of conditions which tolerate freedom of expression and freedom of the media;
11. Supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran in defending human rights activists and journalists;
12. Calls on the Iranian authorities to fully cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran in addressing issues relating to the work of human rights defenders and journalists;
13. Calls on the Iranian authorities to carry out a prompt and impartial investigation into all allegations of beatings and torture while in custody, and to ensure accountability for such actions;
14. Calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure their criminal justice system is not used to target human rights defenders for their peaceful activities, and ensure a safe environment where it is possible to defend and promote human rights without fear of reprisal, punishment or intimidation;
15. Calls on Iran to comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, in particular Articles 1, 6, 9, 11 and 12;
16. Calls on the Iranian authorities to end their persecution of and restrictions on religious minorities, including those of the Baha’i faith, as well as those belonging to the country’s Azeri, Kurdish, Arab, and Baluch communities;
17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Members of the Iranian Majlis.