During the plenary session (10-13/12/18) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Statements on Iran by Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) and Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development. Statements on Egypt by Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT), Elly SCHLEIN (S&D, IT) and Neven MIMICA. Statements on Tanzania by Soraya POST (S&D, SE), Elena VALENCIANO (S&D, ES) and Neven MIMICA.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Iran (T)

EU - Egypt (T)

CORRAO, Ignazio (Greens/EFA, IT)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

POST, Soraya (S&D, SE)

VALENCIANO, Elena (S&D, ES)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

HAUTALA, Heidi (Greens/EFA, FI)

MIMICA, Neven (HR, EC)

SCHLEIN, Elly (S&D, IT)

EU - Tanzania (T)

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates on Iran, notably the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh and Egypt, notably the situation of human rights defenders Tanzania

SOUNDBITE (English), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), We are here talking about Nqsrin Sotoudeh and notably the case of her persecution.She's a brave human rights lawyer and she has been detained and convicted because of her work to defend human rights in Iran. Notably she was defending the rights of women not to be obliged to wear the veil. I believe that Iran cannot have a bright future without empowerment of women.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), The harassment of lawyers and human rights activists in this manner is wholly unacceptable and is illustrative of the fundamental lack of basic civil rights that exists within Iran under the theocratic regime. I naturally support the calls for immediate release but we should remember that our case is by no means an isolated one.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, We continue to call for the release of Mrs. Sotoudeh and her husband. They should be guaranteed timely access to a lawyer of their own choosing. They should be allowed to communicate with their two children and they should not be subject to any form of mistreatment.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT), We find ourselves once again talking about Egypt a country which is a champion for human rights violations where electric shocks on children's genitalia have been deployed as a macabre example.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Elly SCHLEIN (S&amp;D, IT), I'd like to add is that no European country can regard Egypt as a safe country. It's not. Also we should stop supplying weapons to the Al Sisi regime. Be a good start. Some governments are still doing it. There are trade interests in play here and also the issue of blocking migrants causing you to turn a blind eye to human rights breaches the values on which this Union is founded.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, The EU welcomes the announcement that the NGO law will be reviewed. We hope that a revision will address concerns on provisions such as the ones related to the registration process the activities NGO is allowed to perform and procedures related to receiving domestic and foreign funding.

SOUNDBITE (English), Soraya POST (S&amp;D, SE), I demand that Tanzania cancel its laws criminalizing homosexuality and stops the arrest and violence against LGBTI people and health and human rights activists. I demand that the Tanzanian government immediately cancel the law then banning pregnant girls from attending schools.Also girls that have been given birth have to be able to return to school.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Elena VALENCIANO (S&amp;D, ES), We're here to call on the council to approach relations terms with this in mind with respect to human rights that should be respected respect for minorities respect to all sexual preferences and if not a serious review of our relations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, At this state together with Member States the European Union has furthermore decided to conduct a comprehensive review of our policies and relations towards Tanzania. The review will also include issues related to human rights and the rule of law as well as our development cooperation.