Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the situation in Iran of individuals belonging to the Kurdish minority

6 August 2008

The European Union is greatly disturbed by the Iranian authorities' infringements of the rights of certain Iranian nationals from the Iranian province of Kurdistan. Numerous human rights violations against journalists, trades unionists, students and human rights defenders who happen to belong to the Kurdish minority have been recorded in recent months.

The European Union learned with grave concern of the death sentences passed on
Farzad KAMANGAR, Farhad VAKILI, Ali HEIDARIAN, Hivar BOTIMAR and
Anvar Hosein PANOHI, members of Iranian civil society belonging to the Kurdish minority.

The European Union again urges the Iranian authorities to put an end to the death sentences and, if necessary by commuting sentences, to executions, and to introduce a moratorium with a view to abolition of the death penalty, in accordance with the United Nations resolution adopted on 18 December 2007.

Furthermore, the European Union condemns the arrest in the Iranian province of Kurdistan of three women's rights activists supporting the "One Million Signatures" campaign: Hanna ABDI, sentenced to five years in prison, Zeynab BAYZEYDI, brought before a revolutionary court and charged with membership of unauthorised human rights associations, and Ronak SAFAZADEH, who is still awaiting a hearing nine months after her arrest.

The European Union calls on the Iranian authorities to release these activists unconditionally as soon as possible and to drop all charges against them and against all other activists of the "One Million Signatures" campaign who are still under investigation or arrest.

Likewise, the European Union calls for the liberation of two members of the "Human Rights Organisation of Kurdistan": Mohammad Sadiq KABUDVAND, sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Saman RASOULPOUR, recently arrested while taking part in a peaceful demonstration.

In general, the European Union calls on Iran to fulfil its international human rights obligations, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination – to both of which Iran is a party – for the benefit of all people in Iran irrespective of sex or sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion or conviction.