During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate about the new developments on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman condemned to death.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Iran (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

ANGELILLI, Roberta (EPP, IT)

MUÑIZ DE URQUIZA, María (S&D, ES)

Human rights in Iran: extracts from the debate on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLO&#350;, EU Commissioner, The EU is saying this along with many other countries too and we asking recording on the authorities to take steps trough diplomatic channels to insure that citizens rights are respected and that the Iranian authorities are applying the civil rights as they agreed trough the international treaties relatives to the civil and political rights. Now on behalf of Catherin Ashton I can tell you that there are official representations in Brussels and Teheran which have been looking in to the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani. The President and the vice president has now publish a declaration calling on the Iranian authorities to re-examine the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani as well as the cases of other peoples whom been sentenced to death, which is in clear violation of international norms. This in a country where the death penalty is still, unfortunately, legal.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Roberta ANGELILLI (EPP, IT), The international community condemn the summary executions and we have to have the courage to say well, look, we are ready to perhaps put in to crises situation our diplomatic relations unless you bear in mind human rights. We free mean and women firmly condemn this, and we got to give courage to the public opinion in Iran itself, those whom descent from the regime. Public opinion which desperately needs our support and filmless. A regime which condemns the freedom of expression and infringe the freedom and fundamental rights well to such a regime, from this house, wed have to say quite clearly, quite strongly, that we are supporting Mrs. Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Mar&#237;a MU&#209;IZ DE URQUIZA (S&amp;D, ES), dultery, homosexuality, and peaceful demonstrations are free crimes for which this poor lady and three peoples has been condemned as terrible crimes in Iran and peoples should have the right of protection of international bodies whom protect peoples whom are falsely accused of those things and also disapprove of the death sentence . Some of those people are minors as well. We do not recognise these things are crimes and do not merit this sort of attitude, this sort of infringement of basic freedoms . We would say "do not execute" Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani and the others two, we should completely review their cases, there should be a legal review, and should be a moratorium on the death sentence there should be not stoning in Iran.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Human rights in Iran move us Europeans particularly not only because we consider the EU as a community of values and not only because we believe in a world with out the death penalty but also because today we are all too aware of the individuals behind the numbers. At least 388 peoples were executed in Iran in 2009 alone this individual death are meted in a generations in a call for freedom but in fact hey inspire a multitude more. In recent weeks a lively discussion about human rights irrupted in the NL as a Dutch Iranian citizen in is prison. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), The Iranian government has not recognised Dutch citizenship or dual nationals therefore Dutch diplomats have not been able to speak with her and neither have the lawyers. The Dutch government engages with citizens in prisons across the world regardless of their cases. It is a constitutional obligation to provide for the well being of its citizens.. This issues mater to all member states and would be address EU wide in relation to Iran bringing human rights to our agenda more prominently.