Arrested by the morality police on 13 September 2022 for allegedly ignoring Iran’s strict veiling laws, Jina Mahsa Amini died in a Tehran hospital three days later following physical abuse while in custody. Her death sparked protests that spread around the country with at least 500 people killed after the Iranian authorities clamped down on the demonstrations with brutal force. MEPs discuss the situation in Iran and mark Amini’s death that sparked months of mass protests in the county. Opening by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

women's rights (T)

Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/72046323/1694178808386_I244605Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament. A year ago Mahsa Amini was killed while in custody of the Iranian morality police for allegedly violating the law requiring woman to wear hijab. She was 20 years old and her death sparked a nationwide movement in Iran. We remember how women and men took the streets in the hundreds of thousands. We have all witnessed their courage.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, As European Union, we fully support the aspiration for a future where universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected, protected and fulfilled. We are, all of us, appalled by the way the Iranian authorities handled domestic political dissidents. Their response to the protest. We consider that an acceptable, causing death, unjust detentions and suffering civic freedoms, in particular free speech, press freedom and the right to free assembly have been ever more violently suppressed for the past year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, This repression has include the use of harsh sentences and the death penalty. The accelerating pace of executions over the past year. We consider most of them in violation of United Nations conventions that Iran itself has subscribed to is extremely worrying. Such I express to the Iranian authorities. It's a new inhuman punishment. Which represents a denial of human dignity and a fundamental right to life.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, That's why we band in our European stage and we will continue to work for the universal abolition. Also in some states, which are good partners of us, and they still have death penalty. We, the European Union institutions and member states have stood united over the last 12 months. And you hear the European Parliament. We have been paying a continue attention to the human rights situation in Iran. Last December, the European Union foreign ministers adopted a tougher stance vis a vis Iran, focusing on our resolute commitment to human rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, We have adopted nine consecutive round of sanctions. We have taken very clear positions in international fora, including in support of the international fact finding mission. And let me stated clearly, we will continue considering options at our disposal to address the human rights situation in Iran. As a consequence of all that the last 12 months have mark a clear change in our relations and approach with Iran.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, We have observed with great dismay the Iran's support to Russia, illegal war of aggression, supplying arms according with the Ukrainians, and were used by Russia to severe human rights violations. Including civilian infrastructure and civilian people in Ukraine. And with that, we have also reacted, including with sanctions and actions to prevent European components ending up in Iranian drones.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Another clear turning point is the arbitrary detention of European Union citizens and European Union dual nationals, including in particular our colleague Jerome from Aarhus. The European Union and I personally have raised the situation of our citizens in every contact with the Iranian authorities at the highest political level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, But our relations are at a low point. At the same time, we need to maintain a necessary approach of critical engagement with Iran. Keeping diplomatic channels open. This is essential to protect our citizens, our interest, and the support to the fundamental rights of the Iranian people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, And I will not stop to use every occasion and every interaction possible to urge Iran to change its behaviour. And I have done all these last months. Sending a clear message to Iran to stop suppressing and attacking fundamental rights and freedoms, release all the European Union's citizens, including, as I said, dual nationals and stop supporting Russia in its illegal aggression against Ukraine. Thank you, honourable Members.