MEPs called on the EU Foreign Affairs Council, on Thursday 6 October, to adopt sanctions against Iranian officials, including all those associated with the ‘morality police’ who are proven to be complicit or responsible for the death of Mahsa Jina Amini and the violence against protesters in Iran.
In a joint resolution adopted by a show of hands by the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, The Left, EPP and ECR groups, MEPs say that the EU and Member States should use all contacts with the Iranian authorities to demand an immediate end to the violent repression of the demonstrations and the unconditional release of peaceful demonstrators, call for an independent investigation into the death of Mahsa Amini and dozens of demonstrators, insist on the restoration of access to the internet and communication channels and urge the abolition of the requirement for women to wear the veil.
The European Parliament also condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the death of Mahsa Amini and the “widespread, intentional and disproportionate” use of force by Iranian security forces against peaceful demonstrators. It therefore calls on the Iranian government to allow an independent competent authority to conduct an impartial and effective investigation into the tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Ms Amini and to allow a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the deaths of dozens of protesters and to immediately and unconditionally release and drop the charges against those imprisoned for their peaceful protest.
MEPs also call on the United Nations to launch an immediate and thorough in-depth investigation into the events of the last few weeks and to establish an international mechanism to investigate and hold accountable human rights violations committed by the Iranian government.
More broadly, MEPs express their support for the peaceful protest movement against the murder of Mahsa Amini, the increasing and systematic oppression of women and the serious and massive violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/3FF
EU warning to Iran
In addition, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced, on Thursday 6 October, that he had met with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to demand that those responsible for Ms Amini’s death be held accountable, that violence against demonstrators be stopped and that those detained be released. “The right to demonstrate and the free flow of information must be allowed”, he added. Borrell warned that the EU was considering all options. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)