On the case of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali’s illegal arrest and detention in Iran

B100285/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali’s illegal arrest and detention in Iran

(2025/2753(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

having regard to the Third Geneva Convention and the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners,

having regard to Articles 32, 37, 38 and 39 of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI),

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Iranian regime widely practices a hostage taking policy against foreign nationals and currently holds in detention dozens of innocent EU nationals;

whereas on April 25, 2016, Dr. Ahmad Reza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian disaster-medicine expert, was arrested by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence;

whereas Djalali has been denied adequate medical care despite severe physical deterioration and the risk to his life, including a recent heart attack that he suffered while being held at Evin prison; whereas Iran has continued to threaten the implementation of his death sentence, including in apparent response to recent developments.

whereas international bodies and human rights organisations have warned that Iranian authorities are holding Djalali hostage and threatening to execute him as a means to put pressure on foreign Governments;

Whereas we note a horrific rise in executions in Iran; whereas hundreds of individuals have already been executed in 2025, and in 2024, at least 972 individuals were executed - a 14% increase since 2023;

whereas the Iranian government refuses to recognise. Djalali’s legitimate Swedish citizenship;

whereas the defence of human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be a priority in EU-Iran relations;

Strongly condemns the brutal treatment of Djalali by the Iranian authorities, amounting to torture and other ill-treatment, as he was arbitrarily detained, subjected to months of interrogation in solitary confinement, and then sentenced to death, following a sham trial based on coerced confessions of espionage extracted under torture;

Calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt any plans to carry out the death sentence and to release Djalali to his home country of Sweden without delay;

Urges Iran to provide Djalali with immediate and unrestricted access to necessary specialised medical care at an external hospital, legal representation, and regular contact with his family;

Urges the Iranian authorities to immediately release, safely repatriate and drop all charges against EU nationals;

Calls on Sweden and other EU Member States and the EEAS to intensify diplomatic efforts and consider targeted measures in response to Iran’s continued detention of EU nationals including Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, in violation of international law;

Reiterates its call on the Council to designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation and to extend EU sanctions to all those responsible for taking EU nationals hostages, massive executions of opposition voices, and other human rights violations;

Requests the VP/HR to publicly raise Djalali’s case and in all engagements with Iranian counterparts;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the government of Iran, the VP/HR, the Commission, the Member States and the United Nations;