On the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

B90113/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

(2024/2551(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the EU guidelines on the death penalty,

–having regard to the statement of the European External Action Service spokesperson of 23 January 2024 on the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou,

–having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas abolition of the death penalty worldwide is one of the main objectives of the EU’s human rights policy;

B.whereas the increase in executions recorded last year in Iran and the current pace of executions are appalling;

C.whereas the Iranian authorities arbitrarily executed protester Mohammad Ghobadlou, who had a mental disability, on 23 January 2024, following a process and ruling shrouded in secrecy;

1.Reiterates its strong opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances; expresses serious concerns about the increasing use of the death penalty; deplores the use of the death penalty against protesters, dissidents and members of minority groups in Iran; stresses that no moral, legal or religious justification may be used; reiterates its call on the Government of Iran to introduce an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a step towards abolishing it, and to commute all death sentences;

2.Strongly condemns the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou: calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately end the practice of imposing and carrying out death sentences against protesters;

3.Deplores the widespread and disproportionate use of force by Iran against non-violent protesters who were merely exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly; stresses that such actions are unacceptable, urges the Iranian authorities to allow a prompt, impartial, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of excessive use of force, including direct targeting of protestors;

4.Calls on the Iranian authorities to uphold the accused individuals’ due process rights, and ensure that those who are under any form of detention or imprisonment are not subject to any form of mistreatment; deplores the systematic use of torture in Iranian prisons and calls for the immediate cessation of all forms of torture of all detainees; expresses grave concerns over detainees’ inability to access medical treatment and legal representation during interrogations;

5.Welcomes the Council’s decision of 15 September 2023 to impose a tenth package of restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran; reiterates its call on the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and to expand the EU sanctions list;

6.Calls on the EU Member States to jointly undertake diplomatic initiatives to monitor trials and visit prisons where human rights defenders and other prisoners of conscience are being detained, including EU nationals in Iran, in line with the EU guidelines on human rights defenders;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the UN Secretary-General, the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian Majles.