European Parliament Calls on Iran to Release Human Rights Activists

On Thursday, March 14, the European Parliament, in a resolution criticizing the human rights situation in Iran, called for the immediate release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, eight environmental activists, human rights defenders, and imprisoned journalists. Members of the European Parliament also demanded an end to the harassment and judicial persecution of human rights activists, journalists, and their families. They condemned 'the most severe form of repression of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly' and urged the Iranian government to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in accordance with its commitments. The representatives also called on the European Union and its member states to use diplomatic tools to address human rights violations in Iran. The resolution stated that the European Parliament demands Iran to release all human rights activists, prisoners of conscience, and journalists detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It further called for an end to internet censorship and related restrictions. In another section of the resolution, the representatives demanded the 'immediate and unconditional' release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, and criticized the recent sentence issued against her. Ms. Sotoudeh's family recently announced that this human rights activist has been sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison and about 150 lashes, but according to Iranian law, only a portion of her sentence that must be executed is 7 to 10 years. The representatives of the European Parliament also referred to the case of eight environmental activists and called for their release. Taher Qadiryian, Sam Rajabi, Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Hooman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, and Morad Tahbaz were arrested last year on charges of 'spying for foreigners' by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an accusation that the Ministry of Intelligence and the Supreme National Security Council of Iran have denied, but the judiciary and the IRGC insist on.