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

Pedro Marques, Evin Incir, Thijs Reuten, Pina Picierno
on behalf of the S&D 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.

B9‑0121/2024

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 Rule 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Iranian authorities increasingly make use of death penalty and executions in particular in reaction to peaceful protests of the Iranian population against the widespread and systematic violations of women and girls’ human rights; whereas Balochi, Kurdish and Ahwazi Arab national minorities are disproportionately affected by death penalty and executions in Iran;

B. whereas the UNHRC reported that at least 54 people, including Farhad Salimi, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, Mohammad (Hazhir) Faramarzi and Mohsen Mazloum, have been put to death only during January 2024; whereas, according to Human Rights Watch, at least 11 prisoners, including Anwar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh and Khosrow Basharat, are currently at risk of imminent execution;

C. whereas Mohammad Ghobadlou was arbitrarily executed, after facing an unfair sham trial marred by torture allegations, due to his involvement in the September 2022 uprising; whereas appeals to take into account his mental disability condition were also rejected;

D. whereas the Iranian prosecutor has demanded for the death penalty for Johan Floderus, a Swedish citizen and EU official innocently accused and imprisoned in Evin Prison;

1. Recalls its strong opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and calls for the universal abolition of capital punishment;

2. Condemns the increasing use of death penalty and executions by Iranian authorities waging terror on its population; Calls on the Government to introduce an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty as first step towards abolishing this practice and to revoke all death sentences; condemns the use of torture to obtain confessions resulting in extrajudicial killings;

3. Calls on Iranian authorities to abandon charges and immediately and unconditionally release Johan Floderus;

4. Keeps condemning the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation and the authorities’ brutal repression against women, girls, minorities and all peaceful protesters; Condemns the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence by Iranian officials; calls for the immediate release of all human rights defenders and all victims of arbitrary detention;

5. Urges the European Commission to increase the technical and capacity support and allocate a larger budget to Iranian civil society;

6. Calls on the EEAS and EU member states to actively support and present resolutions ensuring renewal of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran at the upcoming 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council;

7. Notes with the utmost dissatisfaction that it needs to reiterate its endless calls to initiate criminal investigations into crimes committed by the Iranian authorities under universal jurisdiction, to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and sanction those responsible for human rights violations in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Ebrahim Raisi and Prosecutor-General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HRVP, the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.