51998IP1125

B4-1125, 1134, 1145 and 1156/98

Resolution on human rights in Iran

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights in Iran,

A. whereas in Iran there is an intensified wave of persecution and repression of dissident intellectuals and in particular writers and journalists,

B. deeply concerned by:

- the disappearance, in August 1998, of Pirouz Davani, editor-in-chief of the newspaper 'Pirouz',

- the murder, on 22 November 1998, of Darioush Forouhar and his wife Parvaneh, symbols of the political opposition,

- the unexplained death of Majid Charif, publisher of the 'Iran Farda' monthly, on 25 November 1998,

- the murder of the writer Mohamad Mokhtari, founder of the Association of Iranian Writers,

- the murder of the writer and translator Mohamed Jafar Pouyandeh,

C. whereas the position of women in Iran is becoming increasingly difficult, especially since laws have been enacted which limit the freedom of women, for example by forcing Iranian women to seek medical treatment only from women doctors and specialists,

D. whereas the persecution of the Baha'i continues as severely as ever,

1. Condemns the use of violence in kidnappings and murders, with the aim of pressurising intellectuals and dissidents and silencing them through terror;

2. Calls on the Iranian President and authorities to do all in their capacity to bring those responsible for these murders and disappearances to justice and to take the necessary steps to guarantee the security of all its citizens;

3. Notes President Khatami¨s speech in favour of freedom of the media and calls on the Iranian Government to reform its state policy on existing restrictions on freedom of opinion;

4. Calls on the Iranian authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure equality of treatment of women;

5. Calls for human rights organisations and a delegation of independent human rights observers to be granted unhindered access to Iran in order to monitor the human rights situation;

6. Calls upon the Commission and the Council to use their relations with the Iranian authorities:

- to make clear the European Union¨s rejection of the recent wave of persecutions of dissidents,

- to urge them to respect the international treaties against discrimination against women;

7. Asks the Council to discuss recent developments in Iran, especially the status of asylum seekers from that country, with special regard to the situation of women;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States and the President, Government and Parliament of Iran.