Written declaration No. 466 | Doc. 12501 | 27 May 2011

Executions in Iran

Signatories: Mr Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Francis AGIUS, Malta, EPP/CD ; Mr Joe BENTON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Georges CHARALAMBOPOULOS, Greece, SOC ; Mr Michael CONNARTY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Mike HANCOCK, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Jim HOOD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jean HUSS, Luxembourg, SOC ; Lord Richard INGLEWOOD, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Charles KENNEDY, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Patrick MORIAU, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Sandra OSBORNE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Mikael OSCARSSON, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Mr Kimmo SASI, Finland, EPP/CD ; Mr Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Mr Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain, ALDE

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

On 24 January 2011 the Iranian regime executed political prisoners Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad-Ali Haj-Aqai for taking part in anti-government protests in 2009, supporting the main opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), and visiting their relatives in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. The executions were an act of vengeance against families of PMOI members residing in Ashraf following worldwide support for the Iranian Resistance.

Amnesty International quoted reports as saying Jafar Kazemi was tortured for months at Evin prison to force him to make a televised “confession” but he refused to do so.

“For months, the residents of Camp Ashraf have been subject to constant harassment, pressure and siege-like conditions by the Iraqi authorities who wish them to leave Iraq. They would be at very serious risk if forced to return to Iran”, Amnesty International said.

In December, Iran’s most prominent political prisoner, Ali Saremi, was hanged after 24 years behind bars. His only crime was to have visited his son in Ashraf and peacefully campaigned in support of the PMOI.

The United Nations Security Council and the European Union should condemn these barbaric executions and suspend economic and diplomatic ties with the regime until there is a halt to torture and execution in Iran.