The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday condemning what it called Iran's systematic human rights abuses, highlighting the use of the death penalty against Kurdish activists Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi.
Azizi and Moradi were sentenced to death for “armed rebellion against the state” after what the resolution described as “unfair trials” involving “torture and solitary confinement.”
The European Parliament demanded their immediate and unconditional release, along with at least 56 other political prisoners on death row in Iran.
The resolution passed with overwhelming support, receiving 556 votes in favor, six against, and 42 abstentions.
The resolution also criticized Iran's use of so-called hostage diplomacy, highlighting the arbitrary detention of EU nationals, including Olivier Grondeau, Cecile Kohler, Jacques Paris and Ahmadreza Djalali. It called for their immediate release, saying that these detentions violate international norms and fair trial rights.
The European Parliament also condemned the death in custody of Iranian-German activist Jamshid Sharmahd, urging Iranian authorities to provide transparency regarding the circumstances of his death and to return his remains to his family.
