Brussels, 14/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 12 March, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, called on the EU to be cautious and to set pre-conditions before starting a dialogue on human rights with Iran and opening a delegation on the ground. “If sanctions are lifted (linked to human rights and as requested by the Iranian government) without pre-conditions and the EU opens a delegation in Iran, and if a dialogue on human rights is launched, the government will have no reason to try and improve human rights, and thus the status quo will continue”, she warned during a press conference. In Ebadi's opinion, conditions must therefore be put on the Iranian government - demanding a halt to executions in public, an end to the death penalty for under 18-year olds, allowing the special UN reporter for Iran to have access to the country, and enforcing the law which would permit the Baha'i minority to go to university.
“European business people must be told to be cautious. They should only set up in Iran when the rule of law is established and respected in the country”, Ebadi added, saying that “it will be impossible for them to be sure of keeping their assets”.
In Ebadi's view, the human rights situation in her country has deteriorated since the investiture of Iran's President Hassan Rohani in August. She said that several laws violating human rights have been adopted since Rohani's arrival.
In 2013, 741 people were reportedly executed in Iran including 11 who were less than 18 years old, and over 400 political activists were reportedly in prison - as were around a hundred human rights defenders from civil society. In 2014 (figures until 11 March), 199 people have been executed. Between 2000 and 2013, over 1,700 people were reportedly whipped. (CG)