Press Statement from Frances Fitzgerald MEP
Monday 17th October 2022
Frances Fitzgerald MEP calls for final agreement on EU sanctions against Iran following death of Mahsa Amini
Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald has called for EU Foreign Ministers to ensure that sanctions against Iran are effective and far-reaching following the death of Mahsa Amini and repression by the Iranian security forces particularly of women. EU Foreign Ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 17th October (tomorrow) with Iranian sanctions set to feature on the agenda. While it is likely that sanctions will formally be approved, the details are such sanctions are yet to be released.
MEP Frances Fitzgerald said, “Given the shocking death of Mahsa Amini and the brutality of the so called ‘morality police’ against women & minority groups in Iran, it is time for the EU to table sanctions against the Iranian regime. I welcome signals from European Commission President von der Leyen and EU diplomats that agreement is likely but I am calling for EU Foreign Ministers to commit to ensuring that such sanctions are far-reaching and effective by targeting Iranian individuals and entities involved in the Iranian regime’s crimes against its own population at their meeting on Monday. This includes Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of the Interior Ahmad Vahidi, officials at the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice including its secretary, Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani, and Minister of Justice, Amir Hossein Rahimi.
“The women of Iran have demonstrated incredible bravery and strength in showing their outrage at the death of one of their own at the hands of those who seek to repress and oppress women. We cannot stand for it. The EU and its member states must show that we stand clearly on the side of Iranian women and women all around the world who are struggling to affirm their right to equality.
“We have long known that the Iranian Government supports cruel and barbaric treatment of its own citizens, especially women. With EU Foreign Ministers meeting this week, now is the opportunity to show unequivocally that we will not downplay the seriousness of these actions by adopting sanctions that are toothless or weak. Instead we must show Iranian women that the EU is on their side and will continue to defend universal values on the international stage.”
ENDS
