Strasbourg-During a debate in the Strasbourg Plenary, the Permanent Rapporteur of the European Parliament for relations with Iran, Loucas Fourlas, delivered a strong intervention regarding the violent suppression of protests by the Iranian regime. The urgent debate took place ahead of Thursday's vote, during which a resolution is expected to be approved.
“Zero tolerance for barbarity”, Fourlas noted, using sharp language, describing the situation in Iran as a continuous and extreme violation of fundamental rights. He stressed that the regime responds to citizens’ demands for freedom and dignity with raw violence, blood and fear, noting that the price of freedom is paid daily with human lives.
The MEP referred to:
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shooting of protesters
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torture and arbitrary arrests
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thousands of deaths and tens of thousands detained
He called on the European Union to abandon simple statements and move towards targeted and strict sanctions, sending a clear message that barbarity will not go unpunished.
Kaja Kallas: “The largest protests in years”
The Vice President of the Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, underlined that the situation in Iran has been deteriorating for years. In her remarks, she referred to the mass demonstrations of women and men, the use of bullets and batons by the authorities, and the telecommunications blackouts imposed by the regime.
She also noted that Tehran continues to provide military support to Russia and engages in activities that affect EU security. Kallas called on Iran to immediately release all those unlawfully detained and to choose dialogue instead of repression.
During the debate, MEPs condemned the violent crackdown, referred to thousands of deaths and mass arrests, and stressed that the protests do not constitute foreign interference.
Some called for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be designated as a terrorist organisation, while others warned that sanctions may primarily harm civilians.
In her closing remarks, Kallas emphasised that the EU remains determined to respond immediately and decisively to human rights violations in Iran. She reminded the chamber that there is no unanimity among member states regarding the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, but assured that communication channels with Tehran remain open to protect European interests and citizens.