Ivan Štefanec MEP 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.
Ivan Štefanec, MEP from Slovakia
Dear friends. Dear Madame Rajavi. Topic of today’s conference is very crucial. Indeed, an ongoing crime against humanity is happening in Iran. There has been no considerable improvement in human rights situation, if any, but it has worsened. Executions have never stopped. The lack of freedom of speech and assembly, separation of women and religious minorities continue persistently. The recent shocking report of the Amnesty International on torture sounds the alarm.
Iran is on the eve of a great explosion, and we have seen how this regime has brutally suppressed the protesters killing them on the spot or taking them to its dungeons to be killed under torture or be executed. This is the continuation of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, which remains unpunished.
Now, we would like to know where the EU and higher representative stands on the question of human rights in Iran. We do agree that the ongoing crime against humanity has persisted in Iran. For too long, it must be taken and addressed seriously. Human rights should not be seen as a secondary issue which can be overlooked when trying to save the JCPOA or other agreements with this tyrannical regime. Human rights should come first.
Our economy in the European Union and democratic principles demand that the EU takes the lead in defending the Iranian people’s human rights in protesting against the regime for its atrocities. We cannot use soft language to call for restrained when the repressive regime was killing the impoverished protesters in their hundreds during the November 2019 protest in Iran. There is no way that the appealing situation of human rights will change if there is no independent instigation and accountability. This is the kind of policy and action we expect to see from the EU.
In the end, I want to declare my support for the NCRI led by Madame Rajavi and her 10-point plan. I joined my colleague at the European Parliament in our support for the alternative that has tried hard to bring democracy because freedom will shine over Iran very soon. Thank you.
