Brussels, June 12, 2012 — The European Parliament has issued a strong resolution calling attention to the ongoing discrimination and human rights violations faced by ethnic minorities in Iran. The resolution, which was debated and adopted on June 14, 2012, highlights the systematic repression of ethnic groups such as Turks, Kurds, Balochs, and Ahwazi Arabs, alongside religious minorities like Baha'is, Sunni Muslims, and Sufis.
The motion, spearheaded by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Tarja Cronberg, Isabelle Durant, Barbara Lochbihler, and Raül Romeva i Rueda, emphasizes the discrimination faced by Iran's minority communities despite constitutional provisions that guarantee their rights. These include the right to use their language and freedom of association. In practice, however, ethnic minorities in Iran face significant barriers to these rights, which include restrictions on cultural and political activities, and denial of access to education in their native languages.
The resolution comes in response to numerous reports of large-scale imprisonments of activists advocating for minority rights in Iran. Many of those arrested face severe charges, including "enmity against God" and allegations of drug trafficking. The resolution underscores the risks these individuals face, including the likelihood of torture and execution, with some already on trial.
One of the key cases mentioned is that of six members of the Ahwazi Arab minority, who have been detained without charge for almost a year for advocating on behalf of their community. The European Parliament has called for their immediate trial in accordance with international standards, and without recourse to the death penalty.
The resolution also draws attention to the broader issue of human rights violations in Iran, with a significant increase in executions, including of juveniles, and the use of the death penalty for crimes that do not meet international standards for "serious crimes." The European Parliament has called for the abolition of the death penalty in such cases and for a moratorium on executions for all crimes.
In a statement, MEPs stressed the need for Iran to uphold its commitments under international human rights law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. They urged the Iranian government to allow minorities to freely express their cultural identities and to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
The European Parliament also called on the United Nations to take a more active role by sending an independent expert to Iran to assess the situation of minorities and the broader human rights conditions in the country. The resolution further encourages the European Commission to use its leverage through the new Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights to support uncensored media and advocate for the rights of minorities in Iran.
In closing, the European Parliament urged for a diplomatic dialogue between the European Union and Iran based on shared values, hoping that engagement can lead to a gradual improvement in the situation of human rights in the country.
The resolution was forwarded to the Government and Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the United Nations Human Rights Council, and other relevant international bodies.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2012-0311_EN.html?redirect