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resolution motion, 20 January 2025

On the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

Motion B-10-2025-0067 · (2025/2511(RSP))

on behalf of the PfE Group · Rapporteur: Jordan Bardella, Sebastiaan Stöteler, António Tânger Corrêa, Gerolf Annemans, Jaroslava Pokorná Jermanová, Harald Vilimsky, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Nikola Bartůšek, Susanna Ceccardi, Matthieu Valet, Hermann Tertsch, Jorge Martín Frías

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

This resolution condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including repression of women and minorities, and calls for the release of detained individuals and abolition of the death penalty. It urges Iran to end discriminatory laws and veiling requirements, and calls on the EU to stop financing campaigns that promote the hijab and to expand sanctions against human rights violators.

Key points

  1. Strongly condemns the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Iran, including systematic repression of women.
  2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Pakshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi.
  3. Calls for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran.
  4. Calls on Iranian authorities to eliminate discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and respect their freedoms.
  5. Calls for unconditional release of EU nationals and all unlawfully detained human rights activists and prisoners of conscience in Iran.
  6. Calls on Iran to end discriminatory laws and veiling requirements for women.
  7. Urges EU institutions and member states not to finance campaigns that promote the hijab.
  8. Reiterates call on the Council to expand EU sanctions list to all responsible for human rights violations in Iran.

Who is affected

  • Iranian authorities and government, which are urged to change laws and practices.
  • EU institutions and member states, which are urged to stop financing hijab-promoting campaigns and expand sanctions.
  • Pakshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, whose release is demanded.
  • EU nationals and human rights activists detained in Iran, whose release is demanded.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 18 paragraphs

B100067/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

(2025/2511(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the human rights situation in Iran is increasingly deteriorating, and experts have expressed alarm at the escalating persecution of religion and belief on the ground; whereas members of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran face arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances; whereas being Muslim is a requirement for most government jobs;

whereas Iranian courts, particularly revolutionary courts, regularly fail to provide fair trials and accept confessions obtained under torture as evidence in court; whereas the authorities also routinely restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel, particularly during the investigation period; whereas the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is included in the US sanctions list for their involvement in grave human rights violations;

whereas following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in custody, the Iranian authorities have intensified efforts to suppress the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and the fundamental rights of women and girls in Iran;

whereas the oppression of Iranian women is inherent to Islamic fundamentalism and a direct result of the application of Sharia law; whereas in 1983, compulsory veiling was imposed in Iran and ever since women who have refused to wear the veil have been harassed, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, flogged and killed;

whereas recent reports highlight an increase in honour killings across Iran; whereas Iran’s legal framework is rooted in Islamic law which offers leniency to men who commit those crimes;

whereas European-Iranian dual nationals continue to be arrested, receive unfair trials, are placed in solitary confinement and sentenced on the basis of false and vague espionage charges; whereas Iran routinely uses hostage diplomacy as a foreign policy tool, including in the cases of European citizens, notably Dr Ahmedreza Djalali who is languishing as many others in the notorious Evin prison and recently recorded a video of his plight and calling for his release;

Strongly condemns the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Iran, including the systematic repression of women; Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Pakshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi; Calls for the death penalty to be abolished in Iran;

Read the rest (6 paragraphs)

Calls on the Iranian authorities to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and to respect their fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of conscience;

Calls for the unconditional release of EU nationals, and all unlawfully detained human rights activists and prisoners of conscience in Iran;

Calls on Iran to end the discriminatory laws and veiling requirements for women in Iran;

Expresses its dismay that the Commission financed campaigns displaying the hijab as it serves as a symbol of oppression against women, not to be glorified or normalized; urges EU institutions and Member States to not finance any campaigns that promote the hijab;

Reiterates its call on the Council to expand the EU sanctions list to all those responsible for human rights violations in Iran;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the relevant parties.