On #the increasing and systematic repression against women in Iran TXTTITLE@TITLE@#

B100197/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on #the increasing and systematic repression against women in Iran

(2024/2951(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas following the unlawful death of Jina Mahsa Amini in custody, the Iranian authorities have intensified efforts to suppress the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and the fundamental rights of women and girls in Iran;

whereas hundreds of women who have refused to wear the veil in public have been arrested on charges including propaganda against the Islamic Republic, assembly and collusion, corruption on earth and espionage;

whereas on 2 November 2024, Ahoo Daryaei’s defiance and arrest went viral on social media; whereas she was detained for two weeks and branded mentally ill and transferred to a psychiatric hospital; whereas on 19 November 2024, an Iranian judiciary spokesperson stated that Ahoo Daryaei had been treated in hospital and returned to her family and no judicial case was filed against her;

whereas the “Protection of the Family through Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity” law, approved by the Iranian parliament in September 2023 and approved the Guardian Council in September 2024, consolidates measures already in place to enforce the compulsory hijab, and imposes fines and longer prison sentences, restrictions on employment and educational opportunities for violators and threatens businesses and institutions that fail to enforce women’s dress codes with fines or closure; whereas the law will be implemented for a trial period of three years, as proposed by Iran’s parliament;

whereas in 1983, compulsory veiling was imposed in Iran; whereas ever since women have been harassed, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, flogged and killed;

whereas recent reports highlight an increase in honour killings across Iran; whereas Iran’s legal framework is rooted in Islamic law which offers leniency to men who commit those crimes;

whereas international experts have expressed alarm at the escalating persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran, especially women and girls;

Strongly condemns the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Iran, including the systematic repression of women’s rights; calls on Iran to end the discriminatory laws and veiling requirements for women in the country;

Calls on the Iranian authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and to respect their fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of conscience;

Calls for the unconditional release of EU nationals, and all unlawfully detained human rights activists and prisoners of conscience in Iran;

Notes that the oppression of Iranian women is inherent to Islamic fundamentalism and a direct result of the application of Sharia law;

Expresses its dismay that the Commission financed campaigns displaying the hijab as it serves as a symbol of oppression against women, not to be glorified or normalized; urges the EU institutions and Member States to not finance any campaign that promotes the hijab;

Reiterates its call on the Council to expand the EU sanctions list to all those responsible for human rights violations in Iran;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the relevant parties.