Twenty-four MEPs, mainly from the EPP Group but also from the ALDE, S&D, ECR, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL Groups, have asked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to talk to the Iranian authorities about the situation of the Sufis.
"We call on the EU´s HR/VP Mogherini to immediately address this issue (of the Sufis) with the Iranian authorities and call for full respect of human rights and prisoners’ rights, for the right of freedom of religion and belief, the right for freedom of assembly, the right for freedom of thought as set out in international conventions", the 24 MEPs stated in a public call on 7 March.
The call, also intended for Iran's President Hassan Rohani, and head of police in Tehran, Sardar Rahimi, requests an immediate halt to the "systematic" violence, imprisonments and intimidation against all the Sufis in Iran. "We call for immediate release of detainees who have been imprisoned because of their beliefs", the MEPs add.
In March 2017, the United Nations special rapporteur for Iran expressed his concern about the state targeting members of Sufi groups, and he stated that they "continued to be arrested arbitrarily, harassed and detained and were often accused of crimes against national security". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)