European Parliament Representative Calls for Action Against Human Rights Violations in Iran

Hanna Neumann, head of the Iran section in the European Parliament, called for a decisive response from the European Union and the international community regarding the human rights situation in Iran on Friday, January 28. Ms. Neumann stated on her Instagram page that the freedom of Nahid Taghavi, a dual Iranian-German citizen, was the result of extensive efforts by human rights defenders, the Havaar Help group, and her family, especially her daughter Maryam Klaren. The head of the Iran section in the European Parliament also referred to the harsh conditions of political prisoners in Iran, reminding that Ms. Taghavi faced psychological and physical torture during her imprisonment and spent over 7 months in solitary confinement. Neumann considered the freedom of Nahid Taghavi a sign of the power of solidarity and collective effort, emphasizing that the fight for human rights in Iran should not stop. The German Green Party representative in the European Parliament reported a sharp increase in executions in Iran, citing a 2024 UN report, stating that at least 901 people were executed in the past year, the highest figure since 2015. She added that 40 executions were recorded in just one week of December last year. Ms. Neumann stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses executions as a tool to instill fear and suppress dissent. In her message, she called for a decisive response from the European Union and the international community regarding the human rights situation in Iran, emphasizing the necessity of placing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the EU's list of terrorist organizations, holding the Iranian government accountable for widespread human rights violations, and strengthening support for organizations and activists working for human rights and freedom in Iran. Hanna Neumann regarded the freedom of Nahid Taghavi as only a small step in the struggle to end repression in Iran and urged the international community to continue efforts to help free other political prisoners and improve the human rights situation in Iran. The Iran Human Rights Campaign: The Swedish government should act to save Ahmadreza Jalali's life. UN Special Rapporteur expresses concern over the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi. The Bahá'í World Community calls for an investigation into the rights violations of Bahá'ís in Iran at the UN. Amnesty International calls for the immediate cancellation of the death sentences for Behrouz Ehsani and Mahdi Hasani.