R15: SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR THE WOMEN OF IRAN

The European Green Party expresses its deep concern at the continued and escalating use of force by the Iranian security forces, the bloody crackdown on the demonstrations and the increasing number of civilian casualties. EGP also expresses its deep sorrow for the dozens of dead and the large number of injured, including many children, as a result of the use of violence by the Iranian security forces. Τhe developments in Iran and the attempt to suppress by violent means the protests that broke out, triggered by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, three days after her arrest in Tehran for violating the mandatory use of the hijab, highlights a major democratic deficit.

The European Green Party expresses its deep concern at the continued and escalating use of force by the Iranian security forces, the bloody crackdown on the demonstrations and the increasing number of civilian casualties. EGP also expresses its deep sorrow for the dozens of dead and the large number of injured, including many children, as a result of the use of violence by the Iranian security forces. Τhe developments in Iran and the attempt to suppress by violent means the protests that broke out, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, three days after her arrest in Tehran for violating the mandatory use of the hijab, highlights a major democratic deficitthe unscrupulousness of an illegitimate regime.

The European Green Party expresses its deep concern at the continued and escalating use of force by the Iranian security forces, the bloody crackdown on the demonstrations and the increasing number of civilian casualties. EGP also expresses its deep sorrow for the dozens of dead and the large number of injured, including many children, as a result of the use of violence by the Iranian security forces. Τhe developments in Iran and the attempt to suppress by violent means the protests that broke out, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, three days after her arrest in Tehran for violating the mandatory use of the hijab, highlights a major democratic deficitthe autocratic regime's abuses against its own citizens.

The European Green Party expresses its deep concern atnotes with horror the continued and escalating use of force by the Iranian security forces, the bloody crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations and the increasing number of civilian casualties. EGP also expresses its deep sorrow for the dozens of dead and the large number of injured, including many children, as a result of the use of violence by the Iranian security forces. Τhe developments in Iran and the attempt to suppress by violent means the protests that broke out, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, three days after her arrest in Tehran for violating the mandatory use of the hijab, highlights a major democratic deficit.

The European Green Party expresses its deep concern at the continued and escalating use of force by the Iranian security forces, the bloody crackdown on the demonstrations and the increasing number of civilian casualties. EGP also expresses its deep sorrow for the dozens of dead and the large number of injured, including many children, as a result of the use of violence by the Iranian security forces. Τhe developments in Iran and the attempt to suppress by violent means the protests that broke out, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, three days after her arrest in Tehran for violating the mandatory use of the hijab, highlights a major democratic deficit.The first feminist revolution is taking place in Iran - after 43 years of systematic patriarchal oppression and violence against women, LGBTIQ and minority groups.

The European Greens stand undeterred in their solidarity with the people of Iran. Human rights and women's rights specifically must be respected in Iran.

Every year, millions of Iranian women are held, harassed, and sanctioned in a state-organized manner for "not wearing their headscarf correctly." Members of ethnic and religious minorities such as Kurds, Baha'is, Christians, Sufis and Sunnis often face numerous discriminations and persecution in Iran. Due to discriminatory laws and policies, homosexuals and other sexual minorities (LGBTQI) in Iran are regularly at risk of harassment, violence, and even death.

Peaceful protests are suppressed and put down, countless cases of disappearances have been documented. Journalists, government critics, human rights defenders and civil society activists are arbitrarily arrested and sentenced without fair trial. Political prisoners often suffer torture and ill-treatment in custody and are denied necessary medical treatment. We stand in solidarity with the inspiring courage of Iranian women in particular, who are taking to the streets for their freedom and rights in Iran despite the repression.

Since the 2019 protests, Iranian judicial authorities have dramatically increased the price of peaceful dissent, sentencing dozens of human rights defenders and activists to decades of imprisonment. Serious abuses by security and intelligence agencies during the November 2019 nationwide protests continue to be covered up to this day, as are an estimated 1.500 deaths during the protests as well as thousands of unlawful arrests and convictions. According to a comprehensive report by Amnesty International, a total of about 7000 men, women and children were detained, tortured and abused within a few days.

After the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, thousands of Iranians have been protesting against the oppressive fundamentalist regime of Iran with the goal to live in freedom and democracy. Iranian security forces have been brutally cracking down protests ever since. They have arrested an estimated 15.000 people, including minors. Protesters, like the 17-year-old Nika Shakarami, have been tortured, sexually abused and beaten to death. 227 members of the Iranian parliament have even doubled-down and condemned demonstrators for "war against God", demanding the death penalty for all detained protestors in a letter.

The Greens have their roots in and support international civil rights, women and LGBTIQ movements. Human Rights do not belong to "the West" or "the East", they are universal and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Iranian regime has signed the declaration and is bound by it like all other states. We strongly condemn the repression and brutal violence by the Iranian Regime. We explicitly support the efforts for political and religious freedom, self-determination, human rights and democracy in Iran.

The EU’s Greens/EFA stand for a feminist foreign policy in which human dignity, diversity, equality, and democratic participation are the foundation for all people.

Denouncing the attempt to restrict freedom of expression by restricting access to the internet and social media platforms, and recognising that every person has the right to live freely and to be respected regardless of gender, language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the EGP invitescalls upon the Iranian government to take into account the appeal from the Secretary-General of the United Nations towards Iran to exercise the utmost restraint, and on its security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, in order to avoid further escalation.

Denouncing the attempt to restrict freedom of expression by restricting access to the internet and social media platforms, and recognising that every person has the right to live freely and to be respected regardless of gender, language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the EGP invitesdemands that the Iranian government to take into accountfollows the appeal from the Secretary-General of the United Nations towards Iran to exercise the utmost restraint, and on its security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, in order to avoid further escalation.

DenouncingGravely concerned about the attempt to restrict freedom of expression by restricting access to the internet and social media platforms, and recognising that every person has the right to live freely and to be respected regardless of gender, language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the EGP invitesurges the Iranian government to take into account the appeal from the Secretary-General of the United Nations towards Iran to exercise the utmost restraint, and on its security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, in order to avoid further escalation.

Denouncing the attempt to restrict freedom of expression by restricting access to the internet and social media platforms, and recognising that every person has the right to live freely and to be respected regardless of gender, language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the EGP invites the Iranian government to take into account the appeal from the Secretary-General of the United Nations towards Iran to exercise the utmost restraint, and on its security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, in order to avoid further escalation.
Nevertheless, 227 of the 290 parlementarians called on the judiciary to crack down on protesters and possibly impose the death penalty. Since this call, a court in Iran’s capital Tehran has handed down death penalties to at least five protesters involved in the recent protests.

Denouncing the attempt to restrict freedom of expression by restricting access to the internet and social media platforms, and recognising that every person has the right to live freely and to be respected regardless of gender, language, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the EGP invites the Iranian government to take into account the appeal from the Secretary-General of the United Nations towards Iran to exercise the utmost restraint, and on its security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, in order to avoid further escalation.

Having regard toTaking into consideration all the above and the remarks of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, of 18 July 2022, and in particular with regards to (or in particular regarding the restrictions etc)the restrictions faced by women, the EGP:

The EGP welcomes the EU-imposed sanctions and restrictive measures against the Iranian regime, specifically those against the IRGC, and support their implementation.

Having regard to all the above and the remarks of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, of 18 July 2022, and in particular with regard to the restrictions faced by women,EGP calls on the EGPEuropean Commission and the EU member states: