European Parliament Bans Diplomats and Representatives of the Islamic Republic; 'Europe Must Understand Its Duty, Iran Will Be Free.'

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced the ban on the presence of all diplomats and representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the buildings of the European Parliament. On Saturday, the President of the European Parliament stated in a message on X that in response to the ongoing repression in Iran and simultaneous with the continuation of public protests, it has been decided to prohibit the entry of all members of the diplomatic corps and other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all locations of the European Parliament. Roberta Metsola emphasized in her message: 'We cannot continue as normal.' Referring to the national and revolutionary uprising of Iranians, she wrote that the people of Iran are courageously standing up for their rights and freedoms, and the European Parliament cannot play a role in normalizing or legitimizing a regime that bases its survival on torture, repression, and murder. The President of the European Parliament also stated that this European institution will not engage in any cooperation or actions that would lead to legitimizing the Islamic Republic. In another clear stance in support of Iranian protesters, Metsola emphasized the right to freedom and human dignity, calling the demands of the protesters 'self-evident and legitimate.' She referred to the new generation of Iran, stating: 'The desire for freedom is inherent in all human beings. The new generation of Iran demands dignity and freedom, and by 2026, this demand should not be seen as a big or unacceptable request.' Metsola condemned the repression of protesters, adding: 'The killings must stop. Innocents and those being pursued must be released, and the repression must end.' She also addressed the protesters in the streets of Iran, saying: 'To the brave girls, students, women, and men in the streets: This is your time. Any regime that cuts communications is a regime that fears its people.' She concluded by emphasizing that 'Europe must understand its duty and take action. Iran will be free.' This decision was announced amid a wave of international condemnations against the violent crackdown by the Iranian government on protesters and widespread internet shutdowns in Iran, with various institutions and officials from different countries repeatedly calling for accountability for human rights violations in Iran. Previously, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, reacted to the nationwide uprising in Iran for the umpteenth time in recent days, speaking of 'Iran nearing freedom' and America's readiness to assist the protesters. In this message, he emphasized: 'Iran is approaching freedom; perhaps in an unprecedented way. The United States is ready to help!!!' On Saturday, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, also announced Washington's firm support for Iranian protesters in a message on X (formerly Twitter). Rubio wrote in this short message: 'The United States supports the brave people of Iran.' In the United States, several senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties have issued statements and posted messages on social media expressing their support for the nationwide protests in Iran. Among these individuals are Lindsey Graham, Katie Boyd Britt, Kevin Cramer, Tim Scott, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn, and Ted Cruz, all Republican senators from South Carolina, Alabama, North Dakota, Arkansas, and Texas. Among the Democrats, John Fetterman from Pennsylvania and Jackie Rosen from Nevada have condemned the repression of protesters and emphasized their support for the Iranian people's demands for freedom and human dignity. In the U.S. House of Representatives, bipartisan support for the protests in Iran has continued. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican representative from Florida, and Claudia Tenney, a Republican representative from New York, along with figures such as Jason Crow from Colorado, Lizzie Fletcher from Texas, Susie Lee from Nevada, and Suhas Subramaniam from Virginia, all members of the Democratic House of Representatives, have issued clear statements supporting the popular uprising in Iran and condemned the repression, violence, and internet shutdowns by the Islamic Republic. Young American senator Tim Sheehy from Montana also posted a video on X showing him lighting a cigarette with a burning photo of Ali Khamenei. He captioned it: 'If you’re smoking, smoke them.' Lighting a cigarette with a burning photo of 'Khamenei' has become a symbolic and protest action in recent protests, quickly garnering support from around the world. Previously, many Iranian girls had posted similar images on social media to express their opposition to the Islamic Republic. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also emphasized on Saturday, January 20, that the European Union 'stands fully' with Iranian protesters. She stated that the streets of Iran witness the presence of men and women demanding fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly, and the right to live freely. Von der Leyen, while condemning the repression of protests, called for the release of detainees and the immediate restoration of the internet. Simultaneously, the EU's foreign policy chief has also rejected violence against protesters and emphasized the right to peaceful protest. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has expressed serious concern about reports of the killing of protesters and the nationwide internet shutdown, calling for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into deaths and accountability for human rights violators. He deemed the internet shutdown as an action contrary to freedom of expression that disrupts the documentation of violations and access to essential services. Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, described reports of the killing of protesters as 'horrific' and condemned all forms of violence against peaceful demonstrators. He emphasized that Sweden stands with the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustly detained. Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, also challenged the regime's behavioral contradictions. She noted that while the regime calls protesters terrorists, it itself commits violent acts by shooting them in the face and calling in Iraqi militias for internal repression. She emphasized that a regime that sees its survival dependent on killing its elites and bravest citizens has no future. On the other hand, Antonio Tajani, the Italian Foreign Minister, expressed his government's deep concern regarding recent events. He called on Iranian officials to guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of protesters and to stop using the death penalty as a tool for repression. Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, also expressed support for the Iranian national revolution, urging the international community to increase pressure on Tehran against violence against the Iranian people.