The Party of European Socialists (PES) strongly condemns the Iranian regime for its campaign of executions, carried out as it continues to violently suppress protests in the country.
The PES stands in full solidarity with the women and men of Iran who are fighting for their rights and backs the demonstrations in support of the Iranian protests which are taking place across Europe this week.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“The behaviour of the Iranian regime cannot be tolerated. We are shocked by its continued brutality. The PES strongly supports the statement by the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, reaffirming that the death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. European progressives join calls for the Iranian region to halt these executions immediately.”
Earlier this month, Iranian-British national Alireza Akbari was executed after being falsely accused of acting as a foreign spy. It is the latest in a wave of killings by the Iranian government as it works to strike fear into the Iranian people and crack down on protests sparked by the murder of Mahsa Amini by Iran’s so-called ‘morality police’ last year. The PES Presidency also adopted a declaration on the issue.
Yesterday, 12,000 people marched to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, France, in support of the Iranian protesters and the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit at night with the slogan “Woman. Life. Freedom.” embodying the protest movements. More reactions from European Citizens are to follow.
