Resoconto integrale delle discussioni

Giovedì 17 febbraio 2022 - Strasburgo

8.2. Pena di morte in Iran

  Der Präsident. – Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über sieben Entschließungsanträge zur Todesstrafe in Iran (2022/2541(RSP))1.

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1 Siehe Protokoll.

  Javier Zarzalejos, author. – Mr President, dear colleagues, seven months ago the European Parliament demanded the Iranian Government the immediate release of Ahmadreza Djalali. Today we reiterate that for Djalali and for the thousands of political dissidents, protesters, activists and members of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities unfairly imprisoned and arbitrarily and summarily sentenced to death by the Iranian regime. But apart from Djalali, Muhammad Jawad, Narges Mohammadi, Akbari-Monfared and so many thousands of peaceful Iranians have no time to spare.

It’s a moral imperative that the European Union, with its High Representative at the helm, leads a strong response to the Iranian regime. The response must be followed by the commitment of all its Member States. A response that needs to include further targeted sanctions if necessary, and must include also a UN mission on the ground and an independent investigation into the violations of human rights in this country.

And let me say that I wonder if we are being too generous to the Iranian regime because when we speak of the death penalty, even with unreserved rejection of it as this is the case, I mean it suggests that previous judicial procedure, some kind of legality. That is not the case. In fact, there is no death penalty in Iran. There are sheer executions: state murder as a form of crime against humanity.

Look at the appalling repression, enforced disappearances and massive executions of political dissidents in the 1988 massacre and notice that there has been no investigation or accountability for these crimes that involve the current leader of Iran in a prominent role.

Look at the horrifying record of Iran in executions: at least 275 last year, including 10 women and two child offenders. We cannot turn a blind eye.

The European Union is not just another voice in the international arena. The European Union is in a unique position to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and has a unique responsibility to do so. No other political community in the world carries the moral authority and the credibility to demand the end of this inhumane, irreversible and cruel punishment.

We take pride in our human rights standards. We demand respect for the rule of law. Well, we have to live up to the values we hold so dear. Respect for life is not a privilege, it’s a basic right. And where and when this right is violated in such an abhorrent and massive manner, those who suffer – and it is the case of the Iranian people – are entitled to expect from us our solidarity, our support, our awareness and our help.

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  Jytte Guteland, författare. – Herr talman! Dödsstraffet är oåterkalleligt också i Iran. Minst 275 människor avrättades förra året. Iran avrättar flest människor per capita i världen, även personer som bara kräver sina grundläggande fri- och rättigheter. Falska erkännanden pressas fram under vedervärdig tortyr, vilket leder till rättsvidriga avrättningar.

Det finns ingen empiri för att dödsstraffet fungerar avskräckande. Tvärtom visar forskningen på det motsatta. Mellan åren 2009 och 2020 har Iran avrättat minst 67 ungdomsbrottslingar. 85 ungdomsbrottslingar är för närvarande dömda till döden. I Iran används fortfarande dödsstraffet mot hbtq-personer. Medieuppgifter gör gällande att två män nyligen avrättats och även om det inte har bekräftats från källor i Iran, så har det hänt tidigare. Jag hoppas att det här är falska nyheter förstås, men landet har verkställt sådana här domar.

Det finns inget humant sätt att avrätta en människa. Det finns bara brutala och ännu brutalare metoder. I Iran används hängning som avrättningsmetod. Till skillnad från andra länder, som använder avancerade anordningar för att bryta nacken med hängning, använder Iran enkla anordningar som orsakar död genom strypning. Offret kan plågas i upp till 20 minuter innan dödsögonblicket.

I somras förhandlade jag Europaparlamentets resolution om den svenske medborgaren Ahmadreza Djalali som dömts till döden i Iran. Återigen, han måste omedelbart friges så att han kan återvända till sin familj.

Dödsstraffet grundar sig på en medeltida människosyn. Upplysningens humanitära ideal bidrog till avskaffandet av dödsstraffet i Europa. En majoritet av världens stater har vänt ryggen mot dödsstraffet för gott. Jag hoppas att Iran är redo att göra detsamma. Fram till dess att Iran infört ett moratorium för dödsstraffet, vill jag uppmana EU att ta fram riktade sanktioner mot iranska regeringspersoner som är inblandade i utdömandet av dödsstraffet. Det är dags för Djalali att få komma hem.

  Søren Gade, stiller. – Hr. Formand! Kære kollegaer! I dag sender vi et stærkt signal til Iran om, at Europa-Parlamentet tager stærkest mulig afstand fra den iranske regerings brug af dødsstraf. Den betydelige stigning i brugen af dødsstraf, siden Raisi har overtaget magten i Iran, er både umenneskelig og uacceptabel. Jeg vil gerne takke mine kollegaer og især vores ordfører, David Lega, for at sikre, at vi i dag står sammen om at opfordre Iran til at sætte en stopper for anvendelsen af dødsstraf. Vi er forenet her i Parlamentet i vores opfordring til sanktioner mod den iranske regering, der er ansvarlig for disse grusomheder. Vi er forenet i vores opfordring til, at Iran, det iranske styre, løslader de politiske fanger og stopper forfølgelsen af journalister. Jeg har ingen illusioner om, at vores beslutning i dag vil stoppe drabene med det samme. Men dette parlament, Europa-Parlamentet, har pligt og ret til at sætte dødsstraf på dagsordenen og at holde dødsstraf på den europæiske dagsorden. Lad os aldrig stoppe presset på det iranske regime. De modige iranere, der tør tale deres kriminelle ledere imod. Ja, de fortjener i sandhed vores fulde støtte.

  Ernest Urtasun, author. – Mr President, in 2021, at least 275 people were executed in Iran, including two child offenders and 10 women. In Iran, the death penalty is used as a political tool that not only punishes those who have been sentenced to capital punishment, but also those who advocate for its abolition. It’s the case of Narges Mohammadi, who has recently been sentenced to another eight years in prison, or Nasrin Sotoudeh, the recipient of the Sakharov Prize in 2012, who was sentenced to 33 years and six months in prison in 2019. I would like also to stress that we continue to ask for the freedom of Djalali, as this Parliament already recalled in the past.

Today, we call again on Iran to fulfil its international obligations by abolishing the death penalty and implementing its human rights commitments. We also urge the immediate release for all unjustly jailed human rights defenders. As we speak, crucial negotiations are undergoing in Vienna to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Even if the scope of these talks do not include a dialogue on the situation of human rights in Iran, the two are deeply interlinked. A successful negotiation of the JCPOA will provide the basis for the peace and development needed for a more stable country that over time improves the prospects for all Iranian citizens who, we shouldn’t forget, have been the most affected by COVID and the economic sanctions.

We need more dialogue with Iran, not less. The EU and other actors have already adopted a number of sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran. Exercising further pressure has to go hand in hand with general political engagement, as some groups in this Parliament are advocating for. And this will, in a certain moment, help us as well to improve the situation of human rights in the country.

The EU should continue to monitor and raise human rights matters in the context of the EU—Iran high—level dialogue and reiterate that respect for human rights is a core component in advancement of EU—Iran relations. It is in our interest to support the talks, to return to the JCPOA, also to have more leverage to improve the human rights situation in the country.

  Anna Fotyga, author. – Mr President, over political divisions here in the European Parliament, we raise our voice in defence of the Iranian people. Since 1988, the massacre, there are ongoing crimes against humanity. We speak about the so-called death penalty, but what kind of penalty is that? In many cases it is just extra-judiciary crime and simply swift executions without even the pretence of judicial or court proceedings.

Words are not enough. Our action is needed because what we see in Iran – also with financing of terrorists outside and meddling in the region and even in our territories – requires our action and very strong sanctions.

  Susanna Ceccardi, autrice. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, le donne nei regimi fondamentalisti islamici sono coloro che pagano il prezzo più alto.

Ho negli occhi le immagini di un video scioccante, dove un marito che decapita la moglie diciassettenne, accusata di adulterio, gira per le strade sorridendo, esponendo la testa come un trofeo.

In Iran, un uomo che uccide la figlia di 14 anni rischia otto anni di carcere; una donna che si toglie il velo ne rischia fino a 24.

Ieri ho incontrato due donne coraggiose, che fanno parte dell'opposizione al regime iraniano, e mi hanno donato questo bellissimo libro. Mi hanno raccontato cose sconcertanti...

(L'oratrice mostra un libro e viene pertanto interrotta dal Presidente.)

  President. – It’s not allowed, according to the Rules, to show pictures during your speaking time here.

  Susanna Ceccardi, autrice. – In questo libro ci sono i volti dei giovani e sono soltanto alcuni dei 120 000 oppositori politici uccisi dal regime. 30 000 di loro sono stati giustiziati nell'estate del 1988, a seguito di una fatwa di Khomeini. Ragazzi e ragazze, in gran parte studenti, uccisi nel fiore degli anni da un regime senza scrupoli.

Queste donne che si battono per la libertà del loro popolo sono molto coraggiose, perché non possono neanche telefonare ai loro familiari in Iran perché rischiano di mandarli al patibolo.

Dalla scelta di Ebrahim Raisi alla carica di Presidente c'è stato un aumento significativo del numero di esecuzioni, con oltre 270 persone impiccate, di cui 11 donne. Raisi è stato membro della commissione della morte nel 1988, ha ordinato migliaia di condanne a morte e, nella sua qualità di capo della magistratura, ha ordinato la soppressione e l'uccisione dei manifestanti nel 2019.

Noi membri del Parlamento europeo chiediamo all'Alto rappresentante di ribadire all'Iran che qualsiasi miglioramento delle relazioni economiche deve essere condizionato alla cessazione delle eclatanti violazioni dei diritti umani da parte dell'Iran, compreso il suo uso arbitrario della pena di morte.

Pensiamo a molti prigionieri politici come la signora Maryam Akbari Monfared, in carcere per 13 anni, senza un solo giorno di congedo, perché si è opposta all'esecuzione del fratello e della sorella, scomparsi con la forza e giustiziati nel 1988.

L'Europa che fa? Fino a pochi anni fa aveva addirittura inserito l'opposizione al regime nella lista delle organizzazioni terroristiche, forse per interessi economici, perché il potere dell'ayatollah è molto forte e la propaganda arriva fino a casa nostra.

Soltanto l'ultimo scandalo. Ad agosto 2021, quando Ebrahim Raisi ha giurato come nuovo presidente dell'Iran, davanti a lui, oltre al Parlamento italiano e ai rappresentanti di 73 paesi tra cui la Cina, lo stato maggiore di Hamas, che ricordiamo sono terroristi, c'era pure un funzionario del Servizio esterno dell'Unione europea, il segretario Enrique Mora. Una vergogna!

Un'intera area, il Medio Oriente, è ostaggio dell'Iran che insiste nel mettere pressione e paura all'unico paese sul quale l'Europa può davvero contare: Israele. Non si può fare confusione tra i nemici e gli amici, tra gli alleati e gli avversari. L'Iran degli ayatollah non è e non sarà mai un paese sul quale noi potremo contare, lo dimostra la questione del programma nucleare. Perché l'Iran vuole la bomba, se non per usarla come arma del terrore?

Io vengo dalla Toscana, il primo Stato al mondo che, il 30 novembre del 1786, grazie al granduca Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, abolì la pena di morte. La vita umana è sacra, e pensare che la potestà di uccidere sia in mano a uno Stato che, per di più, la usa per annientare il dissenso, è disumano.

La guerra per le risorse energetiche si sta facendo sempre più aspra. Non lasciamo che la potenza energetica iraniana prenda il sopravvento sui nostri valori, non rimaniamo sotto scacco di un paese pericoloso per la sicurezza internazionale.

  Cornelia Ernst, Verfasserin. – Herr Präsident! Als Präsidentin der Iran-Delegation kann ich gar nicht anders, als meine Stimme gegen die Todesstrafe im Iran zu erheben, weil die Todesstrafe jedes Menschenrecht abschafft. Sie gehört verboten, und im Übrigen überall: im Iran, in China, wo es die meisten Todesstrafen gibt, in Ägypten, in den USA, restlos überall auf der Welt.

Als Europaabgeordnete bin ich stolz darauf, dass ein solches Bestrafungsmittel in der EU abgeschafft ist, dass es das bei uns nicht gibt. Und als Deutsche – lassen Sie mich das sagen – mit einer langen Geschichte der Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch mein Land weiß ich das besonders zu schätzen. Wir sind tief besorgt über die Menschenrechtslage im Iran und fest an der Seite der Angehörigen der Opfer. Jedes Jahr werden Hunderte Menschen hingerichtet, Frauen, Jugendliche. Wir sorgen uns um die EU-Doppelstaatler, wo wir viel protestiert haben, aber nichts erreichten. Wir sorgen uns um Nasrin Sotudeh, um die vielen politischen Gefangenen.

Diese grausame Politik mit immer mehr und neuen Sanktionen bekämpfen zu wollen, ist trotzdem ein Irrweg. Der Iran gehört zu den am meisten sanktionierten Staaten der Welt. Und was hat es gebracht? Nichts! Viel wichtiger ist es, die Zivilgesellschaft kraftvoll zu unterstützen, keine Doppelstandards in der Politik zuzulassen, die Menschen im Iran angesichts der neuen COVID-19-Welle mit Medikamenten zu unterstützen und sie nicht hartherzig abzuweisen.

Und ebenso wichtig ist der Dialog, und da haben wir als Europäisches Parlament eine besondere Verantwortung. Ja, das ist ein mühseliger Weg, und manchmal erscheint er sinnlos. Und doch muss er gegangen werden, denn die Menschen im Iran brauchen offene Türen. Schlagen wir sie auch noch zu, haben die Hardliner für viele Jahre gewonnen. Ich will das nicht!

  Radosław Sikorski, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, colleagues, unlike some of you in this Chamber, I actually think that, at least historically, there were cases where the death penalty was fair and just. In Poland, we had the case of Rudolf Höss, the Commander of Auschwitz, where he killed over a million people with Zyklon B. Poland brought him back to Auschwitz and, in April 1947, he was hanged. I challenge anybody to tell us that we did the wrong thing.

It’s relevant to Iran because, at least for the clerical regime, the Holocaust is still a controversial matter. It did happen and one of its perpetrators got his just desserts. But in Iran, you can get the death penalty, at least according to Wikipedia, for homosexuality, burglary, incestuous relationships, fornication, sexual misconduct, prostitution, political dissidence, sabotage, apostasy, adultery, blasphemy, speculation, disrupting production, recidivist consumption of alcohol, pornography, cowardice, waging war against God, and spreading corruption on Earth, whatever that is. Iran is believed to execute the most people per capita in the world, and this is a country which of course doesn’t have a fair or independent judiciary.

I would appeal to the leaders of Iran, but the President of Iran was a member of the Death Commission in the 1988 massacre, in which 30 000 political prisoners were murdered, judicially. There are political prisoners in Iran who had dared merely to ask about that massacre, people like Maryam Akbari Monfared, Qolam-Hossein Kalbi, Saeed Massouri, Afshin Baeemani, Saeed Shahghal-eh.

Mr Raisi, the fate of these people is a testimony to your status as a butcher and you will be punished for it, in this world or the next.

  Maria Arena, au nom du groupe S&D. – Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, je veux tout d’abord rappeler que nos institutions se sont engagées à promouvoir la suppression de la peine de mort dans le monde entier. Il n’y a donc aucune justification à la pratique de la peine de mort, à plus forte raison en Iran, qui demeure le pays avec le plus haut taux d’exécution pour peine de mort dans le monde: plus de 250 personnes ont été exécutées en Iran l’année dernière.

Le système judiciaire iranien représente un vrai piège pour les défenseurs des droits de l’homme, qui sont arrêtés, détenus dans des conditions inhumaines, torturés et accusés lors de faux procès pour actes contre la sécurité nationale, propagande contre le régime, ou pour avoir tout simplement demandé le respect des droits et la fin des violations des droits humains.

Nous n’oublions pas non plus la situation dans laquelle vivent les familles de ces défenseurs, elles-mêmes trop souvent menacées et placées sous surveillance. L’Iran est aussi le pays dans lequel un nombre élevé de mineurs est condamné à la peine de mort, ce qui est là aussi en totale violation des obligations imposées par la Convention sur les droits de l’enfant.

Encore une fois, dans cet hémicycle, nous continuons donc à demander la libération d’un certain nombre de prisonniers aujourd’hui détenus ou qui encourent la peine de mort: Narges Mohammadi, présidente de l’ONG Defenders of Human Rights Center, qui se bat, elle, pour l’abolition de la peine de mort, mais aussi tous les journalistes, activistes et opposants qui continuent à subir les injustices, aujourd’hui, du régime iranien. Je citerai bien entendu Djalali, ce professeur de la VUB suédo-iranien, mais aussi Nasrin Sotoudeh, notre Prix Sakharov, que nous avons accueillie à plusieurs reprises par visioconférence et dont nous demandons l’annulation de la condamnation.

  María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, en nombre del Grupo Renew. – Señor presidente, ya se ha dicho: la realidad de la pena de muerte en Irán es dramática, estando a la cabeza de los países del mundo con mayores ejecuciones. Podemos decir que hombres, mujeres, niños, nadie escapa a la pena de muerte en Irán; los niños esperan a cumplir su mayoría de edad para ser ejecutados.

Creo, además, que hay que vincular la pena de muerte en Irán con la situación de la justicia, de los juicios en los que son condenados. Son condenados por tribunales que carecen de independencia, de imparcialidad, con clara injerencia del Ministerio de Inteligencia. Son condenados sin derecho, tan siquiera, a un abogado de su elección. Y los abogados que les defienden son luego perseguidos, como Nasrín Sotudé. En estas condiciones, los tribunales se convierten en verdugos y la pena de muerte se convierte en ejecuciones y asesinatos.

Las mujeres no escapan a esta persecución. Hay que señalar la represión en la que viven: hoy pueden ser condenadas a pena de muerte también si ejercen sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos o su derecho al aborto.

Quisiera decir que la Unión Europea debe reforzar claramente este diálogo para la eliminación de la pena de muerte, dejando claro que el derecho a la vida es un derecho fundamental. No es negociable, no es una moneda de cambio en ninguna mesa de negociación. El respeto a la vida es el pilar fundamental en el que se debe sustentar cualquier diálogo internacional.

  Jordi Solé, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, the human rights record of the Iranian regime is appalling. The death penalty is one of the cruellest manifestations of this. Despite repeated calls from the international community, the authorities keep carrying out death sentences with an average of around one per day in 2021. The country is one of the few in the world that executes minors and juvenile offenders in clear violation of international law. The number of executions of citizens belonging to minorities, especially Baloch, Kurds, Arabs and Baháʼí, is disproportionately high. And the death penalty in Iran is, to a large extent, an instrument to intimidate, persecute and try to eradicate any kind of political opposition in the country.

I call once again on the Iranian authorities to release all political prisoners and all prisoners of conscience.

The situation has only worsened since Ebrahim Raisi took power last June, with executions rising to 271 – 11 of them women. No wonder, given his well-documented role in the 1988 massacre and in the brutal suppression of the November 2019 protests.

The culture of impunity has been prevailing in the country for too many decades. Iranian society deserves justice and reparation, and they also deserve to live in a free, inclusive and democratic country that respects human rights and dignity.

  Joachim Kuhs, im Namen der ID-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin! Ich bin dankbar für die Entschließung der ECR-Fraktion und auch über diese Debatte hier, dass wir über die Todesstrafe im Iran reden.

Und ich hoffe und bete, dass sie dazu dient, dass das Leben der politischen Gefangenen gerettet wird und dass wir auch sensibilisiert werden für das unsägliche Leid der verfolgten Christen und der Bahai. Ich kann mich aber des Eindrucks nicht erwehren, dass einige von uns, verehrte Kollegen, gar nicht so sehr oder nur halbherzig diese Entschließungen unterstützen. Und das verstehe ich nicht.

Sie sind doch auch gegen die Todesstrafe. Was für einen Grund könnte es geben, gegen die Entschließung zu stimmen? Wollen Sie etwa die Mullahs nicht verärgern und weiter mit ihnen lukrative Geschäfte abschließen? Machen Sie sich bitte ehrlich. Zeigen Sie diesem Regime, das weltweit terroristische Aktivitäten unterstützt und finanziert, endlich die rote Karte. Machen Sie klar, dass es keine weitere Zusammenarbeit, geschweige denn eine Finanzierung aus EU-Mitteln, geben kann, solange der Iran nicht von seiner menschenverachtenden Politik ablässt und auch von seinem Israelhass umkehrt.

Steuern wir hier einen klaren Kurs und helfen wir damit auch den verfolgten Christen im Iran, insbesondere den Konvertiten, dass sie wieder ohne Todesangst leben können. Und helfen wir auch den Bahai, die ihre Religion trotz zugesicherter Religionsfreiheit überhaupt nicht erst ausüben können.

Besonders schockiert hat mich übrigens der Ehrenmord an der 13-jährigen Romina Aschrafi, die von ihrem eigenen Vater im Schlaf hingerichtet wurde. Wie kaputt muss ein System sein, das so etwas zulässt bzw. unausgesprochen toleriert? Liebe Kollegen, bitte stimmen Sie dieser Entschließung zu, und beenden wir das Morden im Iran. Ich bin sicher, Gott wird es Ihnen vergelten.

  Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, w imieniu grupy ECR. – Panie Przewodniczący! Mój kraj – Polska, jako członek Unii Europejskiej i Rady Europy, jest zaangażowany w działania na rzecz zniesienia kary śmierci na całym świecie. Celem jest sprzeciw wobec wykonywania kary śmierci lub, jako pierwszy krok, wprowadzenie moratorium. Popieramy wezwania do możliwie powszechnej ratyfikacji Drugiego protokołu dodatkowego do Międzynarodowego paktu praw obywatelskich i politycznych. Dlatego też aktywnie włączamy się w promowanie i lobbowanie na rzecz rezolucji przedstawianej co dwa lata przez Unię Europejską na forum Trzeciego Komitetu Zgromadzenia Ogólnego ONZ na rzecz moratorium na wykonywanie kary śmierci.

Mając na uwadze wrodzoną godność każdego człowieka, szczególnie trudno jest nam zaakceptować, że nadal w wielu krajach kara śmierci może być nałożona na dziecko lub na osobę niepełnosprawną umysłowo czy też z takich względów jak przynależność do mniejszości religijnych. Jesteśmy także poważnie zaniepokojeni nakładaniem kary śmierci jako sankcji za określone formy postępowania takie jak apostazja, bluźnierstwo lub cudzołóstwo.

Iran to piękny kraj, kraj pełen pięknych i dobrych ludzi. Polska doświadczyła tego serca Persów, Irańczyków po drugiej wojnie światowej, gdy ponad 120 tysięcy naszych obywateli znalazło oparcie i wsparcie wśród Irańczyków. Ta rezolucja, nad którą dzisiaj dyskutujemy, przybliża dzień, gdy do Iranu powróci pokój i praworządność.

  Clare Daly, on behalf of The Left Group. – Mr President, of course I condemn the death penalty in Iran, but I also condemn it in China, in Egypt, in Saudi Arabia, the United States and the 18 countries where the death sentence was carried out in 2020. I condemn it in the 54 countries which imposed a death sentence in that year, and areas like Taiwan and Qatar, which reintroduced the practice.

So why are we talking about Iran? It isn’t the main country where executions are carried out. In an overall sense, the numbers have been falling. There’s a discussion in the country about changing the Islamic Republic’s penal code, where it’s the family of the victim who decides.

And do you really think that some of the racist and geopolitical commentary that has been heard this morning is going to help that discussion inside of Iran? It’s a bit of a coincidence that this is being discussed at the same time as efforts to revise the JPCOA. If we’re really concerned about Iranians dying we need to stand up for the original terms of that agreement to stop the sanctions, which are also a death sentence on Iranians.

And while you’re at it, you might consider the irony of including a motion here about giving out about Iran’s courts and trials, and you give this platform to Iván Duque, where they gun people down in the streets without even a trial in the first place.

  Jiří Pospíšil (PPE). – Pane předsedající, já jsem velmi rád, že se mohu k tomuto bodu vyjádřit. Trestu smrti se věnuji léta ve své politické činnosti, bojuji proti němu a musím říci, že to, co se děje v tuto chvíli v Íránu, je naprosto nepřijatelné. A to číslo, které zde opakovaně zaznělo, 275 poprav za minulý rok, opravdu nemá obdobu. Vedle Číny je v této zemi trest smrti nejvíce využíván a je vhodné použít slovo zneužíván, protože často, jak to bylo již řečeno, je ukládán nezletilým, ženám, lidem, kteří jsou k doznání mučeni. Máme tu kauzy sportovců, kteří byli jaksi mučeni a popraveni jenom proto, aby tamní politický režim ukázal, že když viditelné a známé osobnosti podpoří v rámci občanských nepokojů opačný politický společenský názor, tak se jim to takto tragicky vymstí.

Je to katastrofa a to, jak je trestní právo v této zemi zneužíváno, pouze ukazuje na tamní politický režim, který podle mého názoru nemůže být partnerem Evropské unie. Já jsem přesvědčen léta a byly to i debaty v předchozím volebním období zde na půdě Parlamentu, že není možné s Íránem se dlouhodobě domluvit na nějaké formě spolupráce, protože je to země, která nectí vůbec elementární zásady lidskosti.

Padla zde jména aktivistů, profesora Džalaliho, atd. Těch jmen je celá řada, osobností, které buď byly popraveny, nebo čekají na výkon trestu ve vězení. My samozřejmě musíme maximum udělat pro to, aby ti, kteří dosud popraveni nebyli, se dostali na svobodu. Ale obecně jsem velmi skeptický k tomuto režimu a prosím, mějme to na paměti při různých debatách o tom, nakolik je možné s Íránem posilovat obchodní spolupráci, nakolik je možné s ním uzavírat další smlouvy. Můj názor je podobný jako zástupců státu Izrael, že s Íránem to zkrátka možné není.

  Evin Incir (S&D). – Herr talman! Kollegor! Rätten till liv är den mest grundläggande formen av rättighet. Att frånta en människa dess liv utgör den allra grövsta formen av kränkning av de mänskliga rättigheterna.

I Iran utfärdas detta oåterkalleliga straff, till och med mot barn. Från 2009 till september 2020 har minst 67 avrättningar av unga rapporterats. I januari i år inväntade 85 ungdomar verkställande av dödsstraff. Dödsstraffet används också för att förtrycka minoriteter. Det tillämpas i oproportionerligt hög grad på balucher, araber, bahá'íer och speciellt den folkgrupp som jag själv tillhör, kurder, bara för att de kräver rätten till sitt eget språk och sin egen kultur och identitet.

Kvinnors rätt till sin egen kropp och hbtq-personers rättigheter är dessutom diktaturers och förtryckarregimers värsta fiende för att de symboliserar frihet att få vara den man är, älska den man vill och få ha total kroppslig autonomi. I Iran utgör det grund för dödsstraff.

2017 dömdes den svenskiranske forskaren doktor Ahmadreza Djalali till döden på grundlösa anklagelser om att han skulle vara spion. Förtryckarregimen i Teheran måste frisläppa alla, samtliga, samvetsfångar och avskaffa det avskyvärda dödsstraffet omedelbart. Vi måste fortsätta använda samtliga verktyg som vi har i EU till vårt förfogande och utöka sanktionerna, snarare än dra dem tillbaka som vissa här i detta parlament vill, för att tvinga den iranska regimen att införa demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter och rättsstatens principer. Folket i Irans lidande måste få ett slut. Det iranska folkets sak är vår sak.

  Frédérique Ries (Renew). – Monsieur le Président, l’Iran a exécuté 275 personnes l’an dernier, et je cite ici un rapport des Nations unies. N’en déplaise à la gauche, c’est donc bien le plus haut taux d’exécution au monde: un couloir de la mort à ciel ouvert. Parmi les victimes, des femmes, des mineurs, des minorités ethniques et religieuses, boucs émissaires tout désignés, des journalistes et des avocats, coupables de faire leur métier, des hommes, aussi, dont l’amour fait trembler la République islamique.

Les années se suivent et se ressemblent au pays des mollahs: les droits de l’homme sont bafoués les traités internationaux les plus fondamentaux, comme la Convention des droits de l’enfant, sont méprisés la liberté d’expression est cadenassée, et l’arrivée au pouvoir du président Ebrahim Raïssi en juillet dernier n’a encore fait qu’accélérer les choses.

Ce Parlement dénonce – j’ai compté: quinze résolutions en dix ans, dont six pour défendre notre prix Sakharov, Nasrin Sotoudeh, et le professeur Ahmadreza Djalali, de l’Université libre de Bruxelles. Assez des discours! L’Europe doit hausser le ton: sanctions, on l’a dit, dont on peut – on l’a dit aussi – douter de l’efficacité; soutien, encore et toujours, à la société civile iranienne.

Nous avons certes peu d’espoir que nos textes fassent plier Téhéran – c’est juste un euphémisme –, mais il n’empêche, nous continuerons à faire pression pour obtenir ce moratoire sur les exécutions et pour obtenir la libération des prisonniers politiques.

  Ignazio Corrao (Verts/ALE). – Mr President, I am, as many of you colleagues, deeply alarmed by the increasing use of the death penalty against protesters, human rights defenders and dissidents, but also ethnic and religious minorities in Iran. In order not to seem only an external concern, I want to highlight the proposal in the joint motion that recognises citizen—led initiatives in Iran, such as petitions calling for an end to the death penalty and its disproportionate use against minorities and women.

Iran is also one of the few countries in the world that executes minors, in clear violation of international law. There appears to be a state policy of intimidating, prosecuting or silencing those who call for accountability, justice and truth, whether they are victims themselves, relatives, human rights defenders, lawyers or organisations.

The voices of Iranian citizens are brutally silenced by the regime, and yet these initiatives show that Iranian citizens want the death penalty practices to end. Because of this, the regime cannot claim that the demand to end the death penalty is only coming from outside Iran. Its own citizens want it to end. This is why the EU and the international community need to take urgent actions to let the voice of the Iranian people be heard and stop decades of impunity of those who are involved in human rights abuses.

  Michiel Hoogeveen (ECR). – Voorzitter, de resolutie waarin de doodstraf in Iran wordt veroordeeld, is gezien de situatie in Iran een sympathieke resolutie die wij steunen.

Waarom heeft het Europees Parlement echter uitgerekend nu besloten zich over deze kwestie uit te spreken? Het Parlement heeft gisteren namelijk nog een verslag aangenomen over de uitvoering van het gemeenschappelijk buitenlands en veiligheidsbeleid van de Europese Unie, waarin ervoor wordt gepleit het gezamenlijk alomvattend actieplan inzake Iran, beter bekend als de “Iran Deal”, nieuw leven in te blazen.

De resolutie is bovendien moeilijk te rijmen met de eerdere signalen die door de Europese Commissie zijn afgegeven: Josep Borrell heeft drie dagen geleden nog met de Iraanse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken gebeld over de hernieuwing van de Iran Deal en Enrique Mora heeft de EU vorig jaar vertegenwoordigd bij de inauguratie van Iraans president Raisi, bijgenaamd de “slager van Teheran”.

Wat voor signaal geeft dit af ten aanzien van de sancties, de mensenrechten en daarmee ook de doodstraf in Iran?

  Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, sa bhliain 2021, gearradh pionós an bháis ar ar a laghad 275 duine san Iaráin, ina measc, beirt a bhí faoi aois. Níl pionós an bháis ceart i gcás ar bith ach go háirithe i gcás daoine óga, daoine a céasadh chun admháil a bhaint astu, daoine nach bhfuair triail chothrom agus daoine nach raibh ach ag obair go síochánta ar son cearta daonna.

Mar a dúradh ag Feisirí ó chianaibh gearrtar pionós an bháis níos minice per capita san Iaráin ná in aon tír eile ar domhain. Tá an scéal ag dul in olcas, ach go háirithe do baill an phobail LGBTQ agus mionlach eitneach nó réigiúnach. Ní don chéad uair atáim ag impí go láidir ar údarás na hIaráine moratóir ó thaobh phionós an bháis a chur i bhfeidhm láithreach bonn. Ba mhaith liom mo thacaíocht agus mo mheas a léiriú do mhuintir na hIaráine atá ag obair trí Thionscnamh ó na Saoránaigh chun deireadh a chur le pionós an bháis – an dream is cróga ar fad.

Le déanaí sa Pharlaimint, tharraingíomar aird ar chás an Dochtúir Djalali nach bhfuair triail chothrom ach atá i bpríosúin ag fanacht go dtí go gcuirfear é chun báis. Ar mhí-ámharaí an tsaoil, níl feabhas tagtha ar an scéal seo. Arís, impím ar údarás na hIaráine an Dochtúir Djalali, buaiteoir an Duais Sakarov Nasrin Sotoudeh, agus gach uile duine eile atá i bpríosúin gan chúis a ligean saor. Chomh maith leis sin, táim ag iarraidh ar údarás na hIaráine fiosrúchán iomlán agus cothrom a cheadú maidir le céasadh agus úsáid foréigean marfach sna príosúin. Tá súil agam gur féidir linn níos mó brú a chur ar an Iaráin chun na héagóracha seo go léir a stopadh.

VORSITZ: KATARINA BARLEY
Vizepräsidentin

  Pierfrancesco Majorino (S&D). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, in nessun caso e in nessuna parte del mondo la pena di morte può essere considerata una forma di giustizia, mai! Per questo l'abolizione della pena di morte in tutto il mondo deve rimanere tra i principali obiettivi della politica europea sui diritti umani, e questo deve valere sempre.

L'Iran rimane uno dei luoghi con maggiori esecuzioni capitali, con un codice penale che prescrive la pena di morte per diversi crimini, anche non violenti. Nel 2021 sono state giustiziate almeno 250 persone, forse anche di più, tra queste molte donne e minori. In questo inizio di 2022 sono già decine le persone giustiziate. Sono dati drammatici.

Dal Parlamento europeo deve quindi arrivare, senza alcuna ambiguità, una condanna durissima. L'Iran deve sospendere immediatamente tutte le esecuzioni e decretare una moratoria della pena di morte.

Abbiamo poi il dovere di non dimenticare di stare a fianco di chi, in Iran, si batte contro la pena di morte e si trova spesso perseguito e incarcerato. Dal Parlamento europeo deve arrivare un segnale di vicinanza totale a quei settori di società civile, a quelle voci libere che si oppongono a una barbarie che non ci potrà mai vedere in alcun modo capaci di sottovalutarne i drammatici effetti.

  Pierre Karleskind (Renew). – Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire, «partout dans le monde […] où triomphent la dictature et le mépris des droits de l’homme, partout vous y trouverez inscrite, en caractères sanglants, la peine de mort». Ces mots, je les emprunte à Robert Badinter, qui fit abolir la peine de mort en France il y a quarante ans. C’est bien cela, la véritable signification de la peine de mort. Elle découle de l’idée, purement totalitaire, qu’un gouvernement dispose à tel point de ses citoyens qu’il peut leur retirer la vie. L’an dernier, l’Iran a retiré la vie à 200 de ses citoyens.

Ce débat n’aura pas de sens s’il se restreint à une simple critique du régime iranien. Il doit aussi nous servir à comprendre qui nous sommes, nous, les Européens. Nous appartenons, face à la barbarie, à un territoire d’humanité, où la dignité de chaque individu est respectée; face à l’arbitraire, à un territoire de justice, qui a tourné ses pages sanglantes et en a fini avec ses exécutions furtives, vengeresses et honteuses; face au totalitarisme, à un continent de liberté, où l’on ne craint pas d’être tué pour ce que l’on est, pour ce que l’on pense, pour qui l’on aime et pour ce en quoi l’on croit.

C’est cela que nous sommes et que ce débat doit nous rappeler, et c’est pour cela que nous devons nous battre: pour que, un jour, à son tour, le peuple iranien puisse fièrement se libérer du joug totalitaire et vivre dans un pays d’humanité, de liberté et de justice.

  Helena Dalli, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members. The EU has a strong, unequivocal and long-standing opposition to the death penalty in all times and in all circumstances, and aims at its universal abolition. The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent to crime and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.

The EU follows the human rights situation in Iran very closely, and the current pace of executions in the country is a matter of concern, with more than 200 individuals executed every year, including juvenile offenders, dissidents and protesters.

The EU’s policy approach towards Iran is also well known. It is a balanced and comprehensive policy approach, with a view to addressing all issues of concern. This includes, of course, the use of the death penalty, which is regularly addressed in the exchanges with the Iranian authorities. The situation of juvenile offenders at risk of execution in Iran requires the most urgent attention. We strongly and publicly condemned the execution of Arman Abdolali last November. He was 17 at the time of the alleged offence.

We continue to urge Iran to respect its international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibit, in absolute terms, the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons aged under 18 years at the time of the alleged offence. The use of the death penalty against political dissidents and protesters is also a matter of great concern.

We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to guarantee the full range of fundamental rights for their citizens, irrespective of religion, belief or any other status, including the right to assemble and to express grievances in a non-violent manner. Fundamental rights, such as freedom of opinion and expression, must always be respected.

We also believe that it is imperative for the Iranian authorities to uphold the due process rights of the accused individuals and ensure that those who are under any form of detention or imprisonment are not subject to any form of mistreatment. I know many of you vividly remember the case of the Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari.

Since 2021, the EU has adopted restrictive measures related to violations of human rights, extended ever since on an annual basis currently until 13 April 2022. These measures consist of a travel ban and an asset freeze and a ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunication.

In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities. The list now comprises a total of 89 individuals and four entities.

In line with its traditional stance in multilateral fora, including the UN, the EU will spare no effort to urge the Iranian authorities to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment, and we will also continue to publicly condemn the death penalty, in particular for juvenile offenders, protesters and dissidents.

The EU will continue to address, as appropriate, all issues of concern with the Iranian authorities as part of its balanced and comprehensive engagement with Iran.

  Die Präsidentin. – Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.

Die Abstimmung findet heute, Donnerstag, 17. Februar 2022, statt.