Human rights breaches in Iran, Niger and Georgia

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

Iranian authorities must immediately release all victims of arbitrary detention and end all discrimination against women and girls 

Call for immediate release and reinstatement of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum 

Condemnation of the murder of Tamaz Ginturi and the illegal abduction of Levan Dotiashvili by Russian occupying forces in Georgia

On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on human rights issues in Iran, Niger and Georgia.

The human rights situation in Iran, in particular the latest attacks against women, women’s rights defenders, and the arbitrary detention of EU nationals

Parliament strongly condemns the deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran, and the brutal murders of women by the Iranian authorities, including the 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate Jina Mahsa Amini. MEPs urge the Iranian authorities to end immediately all discrimination against women and girls, including mandatory veiling, and to withdraw all gender discriminatory laws.

They strongly condemn Iran’s practice of arbitrary detention, withholding medical treatment, police violence, torture, capital punishment, and the alarming rise in the number of executions. MEPs want the immediate release of all victims of arbitrary detention and human rights defenders, including Narges Mohammadi, Sepideh Gholian, Golrokh Iraee, Nasrin Javadi and Bahareh Hedayat.

The resolution condemns Iran’s hostage diplomacy and urges the EU to launch an EU strategy to counter it. MEPs also demand the immediate and unconditional releases of Johan Floderus, Ahmadreza Djalali, Nahid Taghavi, Kamran Ghaderi, Jamshid Sharmahd and Massoud Mossaheb.

They reiterate their call for the initiation of criminal investigations into crimes committed by the Iranian authorities under universal jurisdiction, to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and sanction those responsible for human rights violations in Iran, including the Supreme Leader, the President and the Prosecutor-General. Parliament calls on the European External Action Service and member states to support Sakharov and Nobel Prize laureates, and urges member states to facilitate the issuance of visas and asylum and emergency grants to those who need them.

The text was adopted by 516 votes in favour, 4 against with 27 abstentions. The full resolution will be available here. (23.11.2023)

Unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger

Parliament strongly condemns the military coup of 26th July 2023 and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Niger’s democratically elected president Mohammed Bazoum, his family, and all those under arbitrary detention. Charges must be dropped and MEPs demand his reinstatement as the democratically elected President of the Republic, as well as the restoration of Niger’s constitutional order.

While urging Niger’s military junta to uphold human rights and guarantee freedom of expression and media freedom, MEPs want member states to implement sanctions against its leaders. They welcome the suspension of budget support and security cooperation, as well as the economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), while continuing humanitarian assistance.

The resolution expresses concerns around the security and human rights situation in Niger and the region and considers the threats to regional stability and democracy as stemming from terrorism and Russia’s attempts to increase its presence in the Sahel.

The text was adopted by show of hands. It will be available in full here. (23.11.2023)

Georgian citizens Tamaz Ginturi killed, and Levan Dotiashvili abducted, by the Russian occupation forces in the occupied Tskhinvali region of Georgia

Parliament strongly condemns the murder of Tamaz Ginturi and the illegal abduction of Levan Dotiashvili and calls for a thorough investigation into this and other murders.

MEPs fully support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and strongly condemn the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation.

Parliament urges the Russian Federation to implement the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, withdraw all occupation forces, and release all Georgian citizens in the illegal custody of the occupation regime.

MEPs also call on the Council to impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for violations of Georgian sovereignty, territorial integrity and human rights, and denounce Russian interference in the domestic politics of Georgia.

The text was adopted by 495 votes in favour, 7 against and 50 abstentions. It will be available in full here. (23.11.2023)