MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the violent crackdown on the recent protests in Iran

17.12.2019 - (2019/2993(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 132(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Anna Fotyga, Bert‑Jan Ruissen, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Adam Bielan
on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0271/2019

B9‑0273/2019

European Parliament resolution on the violent crackdown on the recent protests in Iran

(2019/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

– having regard to the Council conclusions on Iran of 4 February 2019,

– having regard to the declaration of 8 December 2019 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Josep Borrell Fontelles, on behalf of the EU on the recent protests in Iran,

– having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of 21 November 2019 on the developments in Iran,

– 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 EU Guidelines on human rights defenders,

– having regard to the EU Guidelines on the death penalty, the EU Guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the EU Human Rights Guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline,

– having regard to UN General Assembly resolution 73/181 of 17 December 2018 on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran,

– having regard to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran of 30 January 2019,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Iran is party,

– having regard to the Iranian President’s Charter on Citizens’ Rights,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas tens of thousands of people from all provinces and all the ethnic and religious minorities of Iran have exercised their fundamental right to freedom of assembly and expressed their economic grievances over the increase in fuel prices;

B. whereas despite repeated international calls for restraint, the Iranian security forces used disproportionate means and force against protesters, reportedly killing over 1 000, of whom some are minors and only 500 have been identified so far, injuring thousands and arresting many more;

C. whereas immediately after the protests swept Iran, the Iranian authorities started disrupting internet connections and social media, leading to a week-long nationwide internet shutdown;

D. whereas its resolution of 25 October 2016 on the EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement[1] stresses the importance of upholding the EU human rights guidelines, including those on human rights defenders, in the context of EU-Iran relations;

E. whereas human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and online activists in Iran continue to face harassment, arbitrary arrest, detention and prosecution for their work; whereas the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and other forces have imposed a severe clampdown on civil society;

F. whereas Iranian courts regularly fail to provide fair trials, and use confessions obtained under torture as evidence in court;

1. Deplores the widespread and disproportionate use of force by Iran against non-violent protesters who were only expressing their legitimate demands; stresses that such actions are unacceptable, urges the Iranian authorities to ensure transparent and credible investigations to clarify the number of deaths and arrests, and calls for all perpetrators of violence to be held accountable;

2. Demands that all protesters currently under arrest in Iran for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and assembly be freed unconditionally; calls, moreover, for lawyers and international observers to be granted unhindered access to all those detained during the protests, and for the identity of detainees to be communicated to the international community;

3. Strongly condemns Iran’s decision to shut down internet access to global networks, which prevented communication and the free flow of information for Iranian citizens; underscores that such actions are a clear violation of the freedom of speech;

4. Stresses that fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and assembly must always be respected, and calls on the Iranian authorities to deliver on their international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

5. Underlines, in the light of the violent crackdown against protesters and disregard for basic human rights, the need for in-depth reflection on the EU’s policy towards Iran;

6. Calls on Iran to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, including by allowing him to enter the country;

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 European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Members of the Iranian Majlis.

• [1] OJ C 215, 19.6.2018, p. 86.