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

B90122/2024

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 its previous resolutions on Iran,

–having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas scores of Iranians have taken to the streets across Iran to protest the brutal regime, including since the death of Mahsa Amini; whereas Iran has weaponised criminal proceedings and the death penalty to stamp out dissent, and its use of the death penalty amounts to state-sanctioned killing;

B.whereas Mohammad Ghobadlou’s appeal against his death penalty was rejected on 23 January 2024 and he was executed the same day; whereas his unfair trial for allegedly killing a police officer during nationwide protests in September 2022, has been marred by torture allegations; whereas Ghobadlou’s unlawful execution marks at least the ninth in connection to the “woman, life, freedom” uprising in Iran;

C.whereas in recent weeks, several Kurdish political prisoners have also been arbitrarily executed, after they received grossly unfair and secretive trials; whereas the Iranian authorities have refused to return their and Ghobadlou’s bodies to their families for burial;

D.whereas Iran has reportedly executed over 800 people in 2023, the highest figure since 2015, and the highest per capita globally; whereas Iranian courts routinely fail to provide fair trials, accept confessions obtained under torture, do not allow medical care to prisoners, and restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel; whereas Iran’s police and security forces perpetrate widespread torture, rape and cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment against detainees in prisons, often leading to their deaths;

E.whereas Iran routinely uses hostage diplomacy as a foreign policy tool, including in the cases of Dr Ahmedreza Djalali and Johan Floderus, who both face possible execution;

F.whereas Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism; whereas since the protests, Iranian intelligence services have increased surveillance and intimidation against Iranian diaspora in Europe;

1.Strongly condemns the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou as well as others recently executed by the Iranian regime and extends its condolences to their families; calls for the release of their bodies for burial;

2.Deplores the regime’s weaponisation of the death penalty to stamp out dissent and stresses that it amounts to state-sanctioned killing; calls on the authorities to abolish the death penalty;

3.Calls for the unconditionally release all those at risk of execution in Iran, including Ahmadreza Djalali and Johan Floderus; calls furthermore for the unconditional release of all those unlawfully detained, including prisoners of conscience;

4.Reiterates its support for the aspirations of the Iranian people who want to live in a free, inclusive and democratic country; calls on the Iranian authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities;

5.Calls on the Council to impose further sanctions on Iranian officials who have committed serious human rights violations, including who are responsible for executions and arbitrary detentions; calls on the Council to list with urgency the IRGC on the EU terror list;

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