Human rights violations in Tanzania, Iran and Tunisia  

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

• ·MEPs strongly condemn post-election repression in Tanzania, demand the release of arbitrarily detained opponents, and want sanctions against the perpetrators 
• ·Iran must end the systemic persecution of the Baha’i community, restore their fundamental rights, and compensate victims  
• · Parliament denounces the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Tunisia and demands the immediate release of Sonia Dahmani 

On Thursday, Parliament adopted resolutions on the human rights situation in Tanzania, Iran and Tunisia.

The post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu

Parliament condemns the use of violence by the Tanzanian authorities against protesters after the country’s October 2025 elections, which resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries amid reports of mass graves. The Tanzanian government should engage in a political dialogue with opposition, civil society and victims’ representatives to address the crisis and enable new, credible and transparent elections.

MEPs denounce the arbitrary and politically motivated detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, barred from the electoral process and charged with a capital offence, and urge his immediate and unconditional release. Parliament also wants Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences.

There should be a fair investigation into suspects of killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations, MEPs say, insisting on the need for an African-led inquiry commission. MEPs also urge the Commission and the Council to halt direct support to Tanzanian authorities, prioritise civil society, human rights defenders and journalists in EU assistance, and consider sanctions against the people responsible for these violations.

The resolution was adopted by 539 votes in favour, no votes against, with 27 abstentions. For more details, the full version will be available here. (27.11.25)

Also on Thursday, MEPs adopted a non-binding resolution – by show of hands – asking the Commission to withdraw a draft decision on the financing of the EU’s Annual Action Plan (AAP) for Tanzania for 2025. MEPs believe the current state of the Commission’s AAP does not fully reflect the democratic and human rights deficiencies in Tanzania in recent years, particularly since October’s fraudulent elections and the violent post-election government crackdown. Parliament’s objection to the decision obliges the Commission to review its original positive decision, and MEPs welcome its recent move to suspend the draft decision pending a definitive verdict.

Escalating repression of the Baha’i in Iran

Parliament strongly condemns the systemic suppression and escalating persecution of Iran’s Baha’i community through harassment, detention, property confiscation and other fundamental rights violations. MEPs urge Iran’s authorities to cease violence against the community and release all of those detained for their religious beliefs immediately.

MEPs note that women of the Baha’i community face gender-based persecution beyond systemic oppression, and their number in prison accounts for two thirds of all detained Baha’is. They condemn the rise in the number of executions carried out in Iran and urge the government to halt its use of capital punishment as a tool of political and religious repression.

MEPs call on Iran to compensate victims, return all seized assets and provide access to education, employment and services to the Baha’i community. Member states must raise the issue of severe human rights violations in Iran and impose sanctions on Iranian officials contributing to the persecution of the Baha’is. They once again call for the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization and extend EU sanctions to all those responsible for human rights violations.

The resolution was adopted by 549 votes in favour, 7 votes against, with 31 abstentions. For more details, the full version will be available here. (27.11.25)

Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani

MEPs are deeply concerned about the deterioration of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia, highlighting in particular the case of lawyer and journalist Sonia Dahmani.

Parliament condemns her arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and sentencing, as well as the conditions in which she is being held . They call for her immediate and unconditional release, together with all other individuals detained for the same offences. They urge the Tunisian authorities to drop all charges against Sonia Dahmani and her sister and to refrain from harassing their family.

The Tunisian authorities must safeguard and protect freedom of assembly and expression as well as the independence of the judiciary as enshrined in the Tunisian Constitution, MEPs say. They should repeal Decree-Law 54, which has become a tool to interfere with fundamental freedoms , and honour their obligations under international human rights law and the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement.

Parliament wants the Commission to respond to the Tunisian government’s economic pressure on human rights defenders and civil society and insists that EU institutions continue to raise concerns over the worsening human rights climate in Tunisia and pursue coordinated diplomatic efforts to secure the release of political detainees.

The resolution was adopted by 464 votes in favour, 58 votes against, with 75 abstentions. For more details, the full version will be available here. (27.11.25)