B5-0079,0093, 0098 and 0107/1999

Resolution on the situation of prisoners accused of spying in Iran

16/09/99

The European Parliament,

A. whereas the Iranian minister for information has announced that he will be bringing a prosecution in the case of the Muslim and Jewish Iranians accused of spying, and whereas proceedings are being taken out against students,

B. whereas the charge of 'passing on information to the Zionist regime that is undoubtedly involved in this case of espionage' by law justifies referral to the revolutionary court,

C. whereas the new Iranian criminal code, based on the Sheria, expressly prescribes the death penalty for anyone guilty of espionage for Israel or the United States,

D. whereas several prisoners have already been executed on the same charge, the most recent being a Jew aged 60, who was hanged in Teheran on 2 June 1998,

E. whereas an Iranian revolutionary court has sentenced four people to death in connection with pro-democracy student protests in July and whereas others arrested during these protests are under investigation and face heavy charges,

F. appalled by the Amnesty International report on prison conditions in Iran, which lists a number of cases of flogging, stoning and execution,

G. whereas the youngest of the accused is aged 16,

1. Expresses its indignation at the proceedings being taken out against the prisoners accused of spying in Iran;

2. Demands the immediate release of all the prisoners, to enable them freely to prepare their defence with the lawyers of their choice;

3. Calls for the rights of the defence to be respected and for international observers to have immediate access to the case-files on the accused and to be allowed freely to follow the whole trial;

4. Calls on the Supreme Court to immediately suspend execution of the death penalty and proceed further with judicial review of the case;

5 Insists that any dialogue between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran must be made dependent on respect for fundamental human rights;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the Commission, the Council, and the Iranian Government.