Пълен протокол на разискванията

Четвъртък, 19 януари 2023 г. - Страсбург

12.2. Действия на ЕС в отговор на протестите и екзекуциите в Иран (RC-B9-0066/2023, B9-0062/2023, B9-0066/2023, B9-0067/2023, B9-0070/2023, B9-0079/2023, B9-0080/2023)

Oral explanations of vote

  Mick Wallace (The Left). – Madam President, I have condemned the nature of the crackdown on the protests in Iran. The numbers of protesters killed in the streets is a travesty, and I abhor the death penalty no matter where it’s used. Yet there are too many lies and omissions in this resolution, and I had to vote against it.

These are peaceful protests. Many young people in Iran have had enough of the overbearing influence of religion on how their society is organised. If I was in Iran, I’d be protesting too. But it doesn’t help matters that the US and some of its allies are looking for regime change and have boasted about getting arms to groups in Iran who have also got involved in the protests.

And there is no mention of the biggest killer in Iran: western sanctions. Our sanctions hurt the ordinary people the most; sanctions which are illegal unless authorised by the UN, but the EU doesn’t seem to have a problem with ignoring the UN Charter these days. And this resolution is calling for more of them? Absolute madness!

  Clare Daly (The Left). – Madam President, I oppose the death penalty categorically in any country it is used, and I abhor its use in Iran as part of a crackdown against people exercising their rights to shape their own country and its laws.

Iran has a valid desire to keep its sovereignty, but the approach it is now taking risks losing it. Meeting public anger and legitimate demands for reform with vicious state repression is not only horrific, it leaves dissenters with no peaceful options, pushing them underground, encouraging the resort to violence and opening the door for foreign interference, leading to the destabilisation of the country.

Imperialist meddling is a fact, but it is not an excuse. The choice is stark: bend or break. If there is no justice for its victims, and demands are not urgently addressed, then I am fearful for Iran’s future.

I would have supported the motion, but it goes far beyond what is acceptable in a human rights resolution. UN action is of course right. I support that. But colleagues here are throwing in geopolitical demands, trying to sabotage nuclear talks, dragging in the war in Ukraine, blocking constructive engagement and pushing for more failed sanctions that have only made things worse, so I voted against.