MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

6.2.2024 - (2024/2551(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Hilde Vautmans, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Olivier Chastel, Katalin Cseh, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Michael Kauch, Karen Melchior, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, Dragoş Pîslaru, Frédérique Ries, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0102/2024

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0120/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

(2024/2551(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas according to Amnesty International, Iran has the highest number of executions per capita in the world; whereas, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, executions in Iran are increasing exponentially; Whereas over 800 individuals were executed in 2023, and over 500 protesters were killed as part of the ongoing suppression of the Women, Life, and Freedom movement;

B. Whereas on 23 January 2024 the authorities arbitrarily executed Mohammad Ghobadlou, a 23-year-old mentally-disabled protester, following his arrest in September 2022 as part of a crackdown on protesters; whereas political prisoner Farhad Salima was also executed;

C. Whereas the Iranian Constitution guarantees equal rights for ethnic minorities; whereas the death penalty is disproportionately applied to minorities, as well as human rights defenders and journalists; whereas Iran’s unfair legal system is a pillar of its hostage diplomacy strategy;

1. Calls on Iran to allow an impartial international investigation into human rights violations, including the killing of Mohammad Ghobadlou, and other peaceful demonstrators, torture and ill-treatment of detainees;

2. Strongly condemns the executions of peaceful demonstrators in Iran, including that of Mohammad Ghobadlou; calls on Iran to put an immediate end to all executions and strive for the complete abolition of the death penalty; reiterates its firm opposition to the use of the death penalty at all times and under all circumstances;

3. Reaffirms its support for the Iranian people in their struggle for change, justice, freedoms and rights, particularly against restrictions on women;

4. Reiterates its call to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its subsidiary forces to the EU terrorist list, and to adopt additional restrictive measures against Iranian individuals and entities responsible for grave human rights violations;

5. Urges the Iranian authorities to withdraw all charges against anyone detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression; Calls on the Iranian authorities to respect their international obligations, including those of the ICCPR, and to grant EU observers access to all processes related to the protests;

6. Calls on EU member states to support the renewal of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session;

7. Expects the EU, including the VP/HR to continue raising human rights concerns with the Iranian authorities, in particular in the context of the EU political dialogue in Iran; reiterates that respect for human rights is a key component of EU-Iran relations;

8. Calls on the VP/HR to develop an EU strategy to counter Iran’s hostage diplomacy against EU nationals;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, VP/HR, the Member States, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and Iranian government.