MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran
6.7.2021 - (2021/2785(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Željana Zovko, David Lega, Michael Gahler, Sandra Kalniete, David McAllister, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Paulo Rangel, Miriam Lexmann, Radosław Sikorski, Loránt Vincze, Krzysztof Hetman, Vladimír Bilčík, Janina Ochojska, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Ivan Štefanec, Inese Vaidere, Vangelis Meimarakis, Tomáš Zdechovský, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Deirdre Clune, Peter Pollák, Christian Sagartz, Adam Jarubas, José Manuel Fernandes, Stanislav Polčák, Eva Maydell, Michaela Šojdrová, Romana Tomc, Jiří Pospíšil, Tom Vandenkendelaere, Luděk Niedermayer
on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0382/2021
B9‑0399/2021
European Parliament resolution on the case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolution on Iran,
- having regard to the Statements of the Special Rapporteurs on Ahmadreza Djalali of 18 March 2021 and 25 November 2020,
- having regard to Iran’s presidential election on 18 June 2021,
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish doctor, lecturer and researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and Universita degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, was sentenced to death on espionage charges in October 2017;
B. whereas Mr Djalali has been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution, despite findings which confirm that his trial was unfair and his conviction was based on a forced confession extracted under torture;
C. whereas Mr Djalali has been threatened by Iranian officials to kill him and his family in Sweden and Iran; whereas Mr Djalali has been subject of torture and ill-treatment; whereas he was denied family visits; whereas he was informed on 24 November 2020 on his imminent execution;
D. whereas Mr Djalali’s health condition has been deteriorating since his arrest and he has been denied access to adequate health care;
E. whereas EU-Iranian dual nationals continue to be arrested, followed by solitary confinement, and sentences based on vague ‘espionage’ charges: whereas Iran does not recognise dual nationality; whereas Iranian courts fail to provide fair trials;
1. Strongly condemns the arbitrary detention, sentencing, prolonged solitary confinement and the torturing of Mr Djalali;
2. Urges the Iranian authorities, under the leadership of newly elected President Ebrahim Raisi, to guarantee Mr Djalali’s safety and provide him specialized medical care;
3. Calls on the Iranian authorities to halt the imminent execution of Mr Djalali, to quash his conviction, to release him immediately and unconditionally, to accord him the right to compensation, and to stop threatening his family in Iran and Sweden;
4. Reiterates its calls for urgent interventions by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and EU Member States, aimed at halting any plans to execute Mr Djalali;
5. Considers that further targeted sanctions will be necessary if the Iranian authorities do not free Mr. Djalali, as the EU and its Member States are requesting;
6. Calls on the authorities to declare an official moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, and to release all those detained arbitrarily;
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 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