MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep BORRELL discuss the countrywide protests against the Islamic regime in Iran after the nationwide demonstrations were triggered by the death in Tehran on 16 September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police, who assaulted her for, they claimed, incorrectly wearing her hijab. Extracts from the debate. MEPs call for more sanctions against the Iranian regime. During the debate, Abir AL-SAHLANI (Renew, SE) cuts her hair in the plenary to show her support to the Iranien women.

debate

plenary session

EU - Iran (T)

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

violence against women (T)

URTASUN, Ernest (Greens/EFA, ES)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

AL SAHLANI, Abir (Renew, SE)

The death of Mahsa Amini and the repression of women's rights protesters in Iran: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, On the streets of Iran the repression of the demonstrators has left behind tens of people killed. Mahsa Amini was only 22 years old. She was visiting the capital of her country. And the morality police, even the name morality police sounds bizarre to us here. detained and mistreated here simply because of her headscarf.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World: There are countless testimonies of brave woman and men expressing their dissent and their cities on a social media. We have seen them chanting woman life, freedom, Three key words. These Iranian women have been the force driving the dissent. They ask for respect, justice, and equality, nothing more, nothing less.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World: People in Iran as anywhere else have the right to peaceful protest. It's as simple as that. And it's clear that this right has not been ensured. Together with the member states. We will continue to consider all the options at our disposal, including restrictive measures to address the killing of Mahsa Amini and the way Iranian security forces have responded to the demonstration.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee, The violent crackdown of the mullahs security forces on peaceful protesters must stop immediately. The Council ought to impose tough sanctions responding to serious human rights violations as soon as possible. Call them restrictive measures, call them tough sanctions. The main thing is they will be adopted sooner, the better

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), The renegotiation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, which is ongoing at the moment. and the specific position of the country in the middle of an energy crisis around the world means that we cannot look away. We have to clearly what's happening in Iran and Europe has to respond. Europe has to support the women in Iran because it's the women in Iran who are leading this protest. Women, Life and Freedom. Our Iranien sisters, we stand by you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Abir AL-SAHLANI (Renew, SE), with the peoples and the citizens of the EU. demand the unconditional and immediate stop of all the violence against the women and men in Iran until Iran free, our fury will be bigger than the oppressors. Until the women of Iran are free. We are going to stand with you. (In Farsi) "Zan, Zendegi, Azadi" .Women Life Freedom.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ernest URTASUN (Greens/ALE, ES), This is yet another case of discrimination against women because of discriminatory codes pertaining to clothing. Women in Iran have been protesting peacefully against rules pertaining to the hijab, and they're protesting because of the breach, their fundamental rights. We stand in solidarity with all of them. These protests have become a movement, and it's a sign of disquiet that is being expressed by women and men in Iran against a government that is systematically oppressed, repressing all dissidents.