Derk Jan Eppink, MEP from the Netherlands addressed a webinar by European lawmakers on October 7, 2020, on the human rights situation in Iran.
Online Conference held under title, “Iran’s Ongoing Crimes Against Humanity, EU’s political and moral obligations”. The online event was on October 7, 2020. Dozens of members of the European Parliament attended and spoke at the conference.
MEPs made their remarks in order to condemn the horrific human rights violations witnessed on a daily basis across Iran. In addition, MEPs called on the European Union to fulfill its moral and political obligations in the face of human rights violations in Iran. They called for a firm policy by the European Union against the mullah regime in Iran. Also, they pointed out, It is high time to stand alongside the Iranian people and support their justified aspirations for a free, democratic, and non-nuclear Iran.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran(NCRI), was the keynote speaker at this conference. Her message welcomed as a democratic solution to Iran’s future. Mrs. Rajavi’s ten-point plan has widespread support from the majority of MEPs for a long time.
Derk Jan Eppink, MEP from the Netherlands
We are highlighting the World Day against the death penalty this week. The Islamic Republic of Iran has some of the most appalling human rights records and has had the highest per capita execution rate in the world for many years.
I was shocked to hear about the recent execution of the 27-year-old national hero and wrestler champion, Navid Afkari, for his participation in anti-government protest. This is totally unacceptable. Unfortunately, we see the EU’s appeasement policy where their prioritizing economic interest over human rights has been aiding the Mullahs at a heavy price for the Iranian population.
The result is that today we are facing an ever more aggressive and abusive regime, which is not only victimizing its own citizens, but it’s also exporting terrorism to the rest of the world. So far, the EU has been opposing the reimposition of the UN Security Council sanctions on Iran.
They are somehow willingly falling into the Iranian propaganda trap, that these sanctions will help the people only. The truth is that these UN sanctions are targeting Iran’s military and arm sales, the regime’s nuclear program, and the notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
None of these have anything to do with the people’s interest in Iran. In fact, when the sanctions were lifted following the nuclear agreement of 2016, the money that poured into Iran ended up only in the pockets of the Revolutionary Guard and its repressive machine. It held the Mullahs to strengthen the iron grip on the population and the ordinary citizens became even poorer because of the government corruption and the skyrocketing inflation.
It is very shocking that the EU is even considering removing the arms embargo on the Tehran regime, which is the number one state sponsor on terrorism. This is definitely against our own security in Europe, as well as the security of the people in Iran.
We in the EU must stand up against the inhuman theocracy, and instead side with the Iranian people and their democratic aspirations, which are represented in the Iranian resistance under the leadership of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.
I know her very well and have met her here in the European Parliament many times. Let us hope our continued effort will soon bring democracy and freedom in Iran. You can, of course, count on me as always. Thank you very much and see you next time.
