B3-1707, 1718 and 1741/93

Resolution on human rights abuses in Iran

The European Parliament,

-recalling its resolutions of 17 September 1992 and 22 April 1993 on Iran,

A.deeply concerned at the intensification of human rights violations in Iran especially with regard to women,

B.concerned at the widespread arrests, humiliation and harassment of women;

C.shocked that even minor infringements of the moral code result in punishments such as stoning, flogging or amputation,

D.whereas Amnesty International has not been allowed to investigate human rights in Iran since 1979,

E.concerned at the Iranian Parliament's adoption on 24 October 1993 of a new code of conduct for government employees which will severely circumscribe their freedom of association and expression,

F.mindful of Resolution 1993/14 of 20 August 1993 of the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, especially the article expressing concern at 'the harassment of Iranian political refugees' relatives inside the Islamic Republic of Iran to coerce the refugees to return to the country or to cooperate on intelligence matters',

G.noting Iran's opposition to the advancement of peace in the Middle East and its aid to terrorist groups opposing the peace process,

1.Strongly condemns the terrorist attacks launched by the Iranian Government against the French Embassy and Air France office in Tehran on 9 November 1993, directed at the presence of Mrs Maryam Rajavi in France, and its attack on Ashraf, 75 kms inside Iraqi territory on 28 November 1993;

2.Condemns the state-sponsored terrorism deployed by Iran's ruling religious dictatorship;

3.Denounces expulsion or extradition of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers and urges the governments of Europe and other countries to refrain from such action and to take the necessary decisions to stop such treatment of these refugees;

4.Calls on the UN Security Council to review immediately the Iranian authorities' flagrant violations of the human rights of Iranians and their terrorism against foreign citizens both inside Iran and abroad;

5.Calls for free and unimpeded access to Iran for human rights organizations, and especially for the UN rapporteur on Iran, to permit an objective study of human rights in that country;

6.Refers in particular to the declaration at the Edinburgh Summit that closer cooperation with Iran would be possible only after an improvement in human rights there;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Ministers responsible for the CFSP and the UN Secretary-General.