Iran:Former EU Commissioners Warn Against Deals with Iran

Iran:Former EU Commissioners Warn Against Deals with Iran

Brussels, 20 Jul - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced the lifting of “multilateral and national” sanctions on Iran on 16 January this year, saying the nuclear deal showed that intense diplomacy could resolve even “the most difficult issues”. However, this new position came despite the EU sanctions still imposed on Tehran due to its poor human right record and links with terrorist organizations.

As the European Union now moves towards more business dealings with Iran, former Commissioners Karel de Gucht and Louis Michel have urged EU institutions and member states to make any dealings conditional upon Tehran improving its human rights record.

Michel, father of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid between 2004 and 2009. De Gucht was in charge of the trade portfolio between 2010 and 2014. Both men played an important role in forging the EU’s business relationships with other countries over the last decade.

British MPs urge EU’s Mogherini to cancel Iran visit amid execution spree

British MPs urge EU’s Mogherini to cancel Iran visit amid execution spree

NCRI - The following is the text of a press release by the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom calling on European Union foreign policy chief, Ms. Federica Mogherini, to cancel her upcoming visit to Tehran in light of the appalling human rights record of the mullahs' regime:

Press Release: British MPs urge EU Foreign policy chief to cancel Iran visit amid execution spree

The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF) regrets the decision by EU Foreign policy chief, Ms Federica Mogherini, to visit Iran on April 16, 2016.

The planned visit to Iran by Europe’s most senior official on foreign affairs and similar travel by other European state officials is highly inappropriate considering the regime's domestic repression and destructive policies abroad.

During the “moderate” administration of Hassan Rouhani, nearly 1000 people were executed in Iran last year alone, including juveniles in violation of international law. At least 47 journalists and social media activists were reportedly detained in the country as of January 2016, according to reports by the UN Special rapporteur for Iran and Amnesty international.

This is in addition to Tehran's destabilising actions and support for terrorist groups in the region as well as pressing ahead with its missile programme in clear defiance of the international community and regional concerns.

The EU should not allow itself to be deceived by Rouhani's charm offensive and his unfulfilled promises of “moderation” and instead pay close attention to the bellicose rhetoric coming out of Tehran. The Iranian Supreme Leader, who holds the ultimate power in the country, declared recently that “missiles, not talks, are key to the regime's future” emphasising that “Those who say the future is in negotiations, not in missiles, are either ignorant or traitors.”

Iran: Nargess Mohammadi granted honorary citizenship of Belgium

: Nargess Mohammadi granted honorary citizenship of Belgium

Political prisoner Nargess Mohammadei was announced an honorary citizen of Belgium in Riksansart.

Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, along with an Iranian jurist, Hassan Farashtian, attended the ceremony for the International Human Rights Day on December 16, 2015, and presented Ms. Mohammadi’s case.

Upon the request of Amnesty International - Belgium, the city of Riksansart granted the honorary citizenship of Belgium to Nargess Mohammadi who is going to be tried on December 31.

Maryam Rajavi: Freedom in Iran is solution to crisis and instability in Middle East

MaryamRajavi: Freedom in Iran is solution to crisis and instability in Middle East

Maryam Rajavi: Freedom in Iran, key to crisis and solution for instability in the Middle East

In the present circumstances, mullahs wage a barbaric war of oppression against the people of Iran. This can be particularly seen in the mass and arbitrary executions described by Amnesty International as "a sinister picture of the machinery of the state carrying out premeditated, judicially-sanctioned killings on a mass scale."

The average number of executions under Rouhani has reached to about 1000 per year. This is the highest record in the past quarter of a century. In addition, there are several thousands more on the death row in various prisons across Iran. These executions indicate the regime’s instability. When a regime feels threatened even by concerts and theatres, it is shaky. A regime that imprisons young web bloggers, poets, cartoonists, journalists and film-makers, is unstable.

The proponents of cooperation with this regime do not take into consideration the Syrian experience or the experiences in Iraq and Yemen. If it were not for the Iranian regime's direct support for Bashar al-Assad, there would not have been a refugee crisis or the 300,000 Syrians who have been victimized. If it were not for the mullahs' support for Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his criminal policies, there would have been no opportunity for the ISIS to develop.

The Middle East needs peace, stability and democracy. This would be possible through regime change in Iran

Iran: Cartoonist and her lawyer on trial for “indecency” for shaking hands

Atena Farghdani

Satirical cartoonist Atena Farghadani and her lawyer will be on trial on the charge of “illegitimate sexual relations falling short of adultery” after they shook hands in their meeting.  Atena Farghadani and her lawyer Mohammad Moghimi may face up to 99 lashes if found guilty! 

Amnesty International believes Farghdani has been detained solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression. “It is clearly both absurd and a violation of the right to privacy to consider a man and a woman shaking hands as a criminal offence,” said Raha Bahreini, Amnesty International’s researcher.

“These charges are politically motivated and they are a blatant attempt by the Iranian authorities to harass Atena and hinder her lawyer’s work representing her. Instead of subjecting this young prisoner of conscience to further harassment and intimidation, the Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop these charges and free her.”

 Amnesty International has learnt that Atena Farghadani is going to tomorrow’s hearing without having secured a lawyer of her own choice and fears that she won’t receive a fair trial.

Atena Farghadani and Mohammad Moghimi were charged with “illegitimate sexual relations short of adultery” after they shook hands in prison after her trial on 13 June. Mr. Moghimi was arrested, and released three days later after he had paid a bail amounting to around $60,000.

In June, Atena Farghdani was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison for multiple offences including insulting MPs and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after publishing a series of satirical cartoons depicting legislators as monkeys, cows and other animals.

Her conviction also stemmed from her speaking out publicly on the rights of the families of victims of the massive crackdown following 2009 presidential elections in Iran.

(Amnesty International- October 2, 2015)