European Parliament Condemns Iran’s Rights Abuses and Calls for Action
The European Parliament strongly criticized Iran for its alleged human rights abuses, particularly targeting women. The resolution highlighted what the Parliament deemed as “brutal murders” and condemned the treatment of EU nationals detained by Iranian authorities.
The motion, adopted with a significant majority of 516-4 and 27 abstentions, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. It specifically mentioned the case of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd and the 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate, who died in police custody last year, sparking widespread protests against the Iranian government.
Parliament members urged for the immediate release of human rights defenders, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi. They called on Tehran to put an end to all forms of discrimination against women and girls, including mandatory veiling, and to revoke gender-discriminatory laws.
The resolution reiterated the European Parliament’s previous call for EU member states to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist organization.” Additionally, it urged sanctions against Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top officials implicated in human rights violations.
A significant aspect of the resolution focused on condemning Iran’s “hostage diplomacy,” a tactic that European governments claim Iran uses to extract concessions or secure the release of Iranians imprisoned abroad. The Parliament’s strong stance reflects ongoing concerns about Iran’s human rights practices and aims to address what it perceives as a grave situation demanding international attention.