EU Declaration On Freedom Of Expression In Iran

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The EU remains deeply concerned at the growing repression against all groups which exercise their right to freely express their opinions, and at the escalation of restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The EU condemns the closure of newspapers, magazines and of the Iranian Labour News Agency, as well as the arrest and persecution of journalists, web bloggers, and Human Rights Defenders for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and recalls UNGA Resolution 59/I.

The EU is particularly concerned about the situation of Human Rights defender and journalist Emmadin Baghi for the successive prison sentences imposed upon him for his academic work and urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately release Mr Baghi.

The EU is deeply troubled by the fact that three students from the Amir Kabir University, Ehsan Masoori, Ahmad Ghassaban and Majid Tavakkoli, have been sentenced to two, two and a half and three years of prison respectively for a crime that, according to Ayatollah Sharoudi’s declarations, they did not commit, and considers that these sentences constitute a serious violation of Iran’s international human rights obligations.

The EU appeals to the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of these students.

The EU also reiterates its concerns about the situation of Mohammad Sadeg Kabovand, Said Matinpou, Mohammad Hassan Fallahieh, Adnan Hassanpour, Kaveh Javanmard, Ejlal Ghavami, Ako Kurdnasab, Farshad Ghorbanpour, Soheyl Asefi, Ali Farahbakhsh and Abdolvahed Boutimar and calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to refrain from punishing individuals for peacefully exercising their rights.

The EU urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply both with its international human rights commitments, namely Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the right to freedom of expression and with Iranian domestic law, specifically with Constitution’s Articles 24 and 168 of the Constitution, on freedom of expression, and Article 26 on freedom of association.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which the Islamic Republic of Iran has ratified, also guarantees the right to form and join trade unions.

The EU calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with international standards previously agreed regarding trade unions, as provided for by ILO, and to consider reviewing its labour code, namely articles 130-138.

The EU also calls on the Iranian authorities to review the announced restrictions for the next Majlis election campaign in order to ensure free and democratic elections.

The Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process

ENDS

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