Green Party: German Government Should Condemn Crackdown on Iranian Protesters
Spokespersons for foreign policy of Germany’s Green Party and Free Democratic Party have called for Germany to take a stance against the suppression of Iranian protesters, stating that demonstrators took to the streets not only over gasoline price increases, but in response to corruption and mismanagement.
Omid Nouripour, foreign policy spokesman for the Green Party in Germany, expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters in a press statement and recalled that demonstrators have many reasons to protest the country’s conditions. The statement noted that while protests began due to fuel price increases, widespread discontent stems from lack of political rights, severe inflation, corruption and mismanagement, and the squandering of important domestic resources to support regional conflicts.
Bijan Jirseraye, foreign policy spokesman for the Free Democratic Party, also tweeted: “The people of Iran did not take to the streets against American sanctions, but rather protested against corruption, mismanagement and lack of freedom in their own country.”
Omid Nouripour emphasized in a press statement that the violence and repression by security forces is highly disproportionate: “When people protest out of desperation over unacceptable gasoline prices, the system should show them solutions, not violence.”
He wrote that the German federal government should without delay condemn the crackdown on protesters in Iran and demand that Tehran restore people’s access to internet services: “Despite the need to preserve the nuclear agreement, the European Union should not remain silent on Iran’s domestic situation and deplorable human rights conditions.”
In a Green Party press statement, it was noted that the German government and its European partners should simultaneously neutralize the American “maximum pressure” policy, which seeks regime change by impoverishing the people: “Furthermore, the promise of creating opportunities for financial exchanges with Iran should not be forgotten and put at risk.”
Bijan Jirseraye, foreign policy spokesman for Germany’s Free Democratic Party, also expressed regret over the passivity of Germany’s diplomatic apparatus regarding the situation in Iran or Hong Kong, tweeting: “I am still waiting for Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to comment on the current situation in Iran.”
On the second day of nationwide protests in Iran, he wrote: “The Islamic Republic responded to protesters with violence and restricted the internet. The German government must take a stance against this crackdown.”
In Iran’s nationwide protests that began Friday evening on the 24th of Aban in response to a threefold increase in gasoline prices, dozens have been killed and hundreds wounded. The UN Human Rights Office issued a statement expressing concern about the use of live ammunition against protesters. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he is following reports about the Iranian protests with concern and is distressed that a number of people have lost their lives.
Source: DW
