EU Council conclusions on Iran

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The European Union is deeply concerned that the human rights situation in Iran continues to deteriorate. The EU is alarmed by the dramatic increase in executions in recent months and the systematic repression of Iranian citizens, including human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, women's activists, bloggers, persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities and members of the opposition, who face harassment and arrests for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The EU reiterates it's strong condemnation of the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

2. The EU calls on the Iranian authorities to live up to the international human rights obligations that Iran has entered into, so as to protect and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms to which the Iranian people are entitled. In particular it calls on Iran to release immediately all political prisoners and to halt executions.

3. The European Union attaches great importance to the improvement of the human rights situation in Iran and will increase its efforts to that end. The European Union will also continue to speak out in support of individuals and civil society organizations which stand up for the human rights which all Iranians should enjoy.

4. The EU is ready to discuss human rights issues with the Iranian authorities and to keep channels of communication open to that end.

5. The European Union will continue to address human rights abuses in Iran, including by swiftly introducing restrictive measures targeted against those responsible for grave human rights violations."

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• Statement on Iran by EU HR Ashton on behalf of the E3/EU+3 (21/9/2011)
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• Iran: Statement by EU HR Ashton on the increasing use of the death penalty (28/7/2011)
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• Iran: Statement by EU HR Ashton on the execution of juvenile offenders  (29/4/2011)
• Iran: Statement by EU HR Ashton on continued house arrest of Mir Hossein Mossavi and Mehdi Karroubi (24/3/2011)
• Remarks by EU HR Ashton at the AFET Committee  (22/3/2011)
• EU Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on Libya, Japan, Bahrain and more (21/3/2011)
• Remarks by EU HR Ashton following the Foreign Affairs Council, 21 March 2011 (21/3/2011)
• Iran: EU Parliament condemns Bahrami execution and calls for fresh EU sanctions  (10/3/2011)
• "The EU's approach to Iran" - Speech by EU HR Ashton (9/3/2011)
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