European Parliament adopts urgent resolution on Iran

The European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran on Thursday in Strasbourg. The MEPs called for the release of prisoners arrested in the demonstrations that followed the June 2009 sham elections, the abolition of the death penalty and respect for press freedom.
Number of MEPs recalled the late July attack by Iraqi forces on members of the Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/ MEK), in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, which was carried out upon the order of Khamenei, mullahs’ Supreme Leader. They called for implementation of the April 24, 2009 European Parliament resolution on the rights of Ashraf residents.

Iran

MEPs call for the release of prisoners arrested in the demonstrations that followed the June 2009 elections, the abolition of the death penalty and respect for press freedom, in a resolution on the human rights situation in this Islamic republic.


The resolution condemns the massive and excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and possible torture to repress protest movements since Iran's controversial presidential election. MEPs ask that the International Committee of the Red Cross be permitted to see all prisoners, without exception.

MEPs reiterate their call for the death penalty to be abolished. (6). They condemn death sentences and executions in Iran, and in particular those passed or enforced on juvenile delinquents or minors. MEPs protest against the execution in Iran, on 11 October, of minor Behnood Shojaee, who was hanged in breach of recognised international legal guarantees in this area.

The resolution deplores the systematic restriction of freedom of information by blocking internet sites, which are prevented from reporting on unauthorised demonstrations, and the creation of new restrictions, which require journalists to obtain an authorisation before reporting on any event. MEPs call for the immediate release of Fariba Pajooh, a young Iranian-Canadian journalist and celebrated blogger, who was arrested at home in Teheran on 24 August 2009.