On the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

B100063/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

(2025/2511(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Pakhshan Azizi and and Wrisha Moradi, Kurdish women activists and social workers, have been sentenced to death, in judicial proceedings that lacked the minimum guarantees of due process; whereas both women were subjected to pressure and threat for forced confessions;

whereas Iran continues to disproportionally apply the death penalty to members of minority communities, especially the Kurdish and Baluchi communities; whereas in 2024 executions have increased, with 901 persons executed; whereas women, protesters, activists and other critics of the state are increasingly being executed after trials without guarantees;

whereas in recent years, Iran has arrested dozens of Western nationals, many with dual-citizenship, mostly on charges related to espionage and security;

Condemns the continued discrimination and repression that minority women activists as well as ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, face in Iran;

Stands alongside women, civil society, trade unionists and all citizens struggling for equal rights, the rights to peaceful protest and expression;

Calls on the Iranian authorities to revoke the death sentence against Kurdish political prisoners Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and to review their cases as well as those of other death row inmates; demands to investigate allegations of torture and denial of fair trial rights;

Condemns the Iranian State practice to detain and prosecute dual nationals and use them as hostage to achieve foreign affairs aims; calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained, such as Olivier Grondeau;

Calls on the Iranian authorities to respect the fundamental right of the defendants to access a lawyer of their choice and the right to a fair trial and due process, to grant suspects access to legal counsel, consular visits, as well as full access to medical treatment and health care service in accordance with Iran’s international obligations;

Urges to put an end to the use of torture in places of detention, and stresses that any alleged information obtained as a result of torture and ill-treatment should never be admitted as evidence in a judicial proceeding;

Strongly condemns the increase of executions in Iran; reiterates its strong opposition to the use of the death penalty and urges the authorities to commute all death sentences and to introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step towards the abolition of capital punishment;

Calls on Iranian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful assembly, including the rights of women and girls to protest and to choose not to wear veils;

Urges EU Member States to reinforce their humanitarian visas policies to persecuted women and human rights defenders in Iran;

Stresses that further isolating Iran at global level can have detrimental consequences, such as strengthening hardliners of the regimen, further degrading women’s right as well as contributing to nuclear proliferation;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Iranian authorities.