European Parliament Calls on Iran to End Human Rights Violations
Members of the European Parliament approved three resolutions condemning human rights violations in Iran, Kazakhstan, and Guatemala. They called on the Iranian government to end trampling on human rights. They also demanded the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer.
On Tuesday, March 14, members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a resolution calling on the Iranian government to stop pressuring those defending women’s struggles for their rights and those engaging in peaceful protests against mandatory hijab.
Members of the European Parliament called on all European countries with political representation in Iran to use diplomatic leverage to support human rights defenders. These members also called on Iran to urgently release human rights defenders and journalists who have been convicted and punished for defending freedom of speech.
They reminded Iranian government officials that at least eight journalists are currently detained in Iranian prisons, and many of them, including those working for BBC Persian, have been systematically pursued, subjected to criminal investigations, asset freezes, and arbitrary arrests.
Members of the European Parliament also cited human rights organizations in Iran regarding the high number of executions in the country. Iran was the second country in the world in implementing capital punishment last year.
The resolution called on the Iranian government to immediately and unconditionally release Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and winner of the Sakharov Prize.
Resolutions on Kazakhstan and Guatemala
The European Parliament called on Kazakhstani authorities in another resolution to stop all forms of political repression. Members of the European Parliament pointed to the increase in the number of political prisoners in Kazakhstan and the intensification of restrictions on freedoms and the right to assembly in the country. They called on the Kazakhstan government to end the suppression of opponents and journalists and restrictions on free access to information.
The European Parliament expressed serious concern about the increase in murders, violent acts, and insecurity for all citizens, especially women, human rights defenders, and journalists in Guatemala. The resolution on this country stated that although Guatemala has continued investigating cases related to human rights and corruption and has made progress in this area, criminal attempts to prevent human rights defenders from working in the country remain a matter of concern.
Source: DW
