B5-0340, 0351, 0362, 0367, 0378 and 0383/2000
The European Parliament,
- recalling its resolution of 16 September 1999 on the situation of prisoners accused of espionage in Iran(1),
- having regard to the letter sent by the President of the European Parliament to the President of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran of 12 August 1999, on the Jewish prisoners,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the death penalty,
- having regard to the United Nations Human Rights Charter,
A. having regard to information from human rights organisations, such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, on the institutional hardships of the Jewish community and other minorities, such as the Christians and the Bahais, in Iran,
B. disturbed by the fact that two Jews were executed in 1997 on espionage charges, that a 60-year-old man was executed on vague charges of being a Zionist agent in 1998, and that since 1979, it is understood that 15 Jewish leaders have been executed under similar circumstances in Iran,
C. noting that in Iran any contact whatsoever with Israel can be defined as espionage, punishable by the death penalty,
D. expressing concern that 13 Jews and eight Moslems are scheduled to face trial in Iran on charges of espionage on behalf of Israel and the United States, starting on 13 April 2000, and further concerned that this trial would last for only one day and be held behind closed doors,
E. disturbed that their arrest was only made public in June 1999 following their arrest in March 1999 and that most have been in detention ever since,
F. dismayed by the spurious nature of the charges and their possible anti-Semitic basis, given the professions of the accused,
G. disturbed that until only recently the accused have not been allowed to appoint their own lawyers, and that the state-appointed lawyers have complained of obstruction in seeing their clients, even for signing documents,
H. pointing out that the way in which Iran is handling this matter does not concur with its stated goal of establishing a society based on human rights, law and justice and of seeking stronger ties with the West,
I. having regard to the damning report by Amnesty International on the general conditions of imprisonment in Iran,
1. Urges the authorities in Iran to provide a fair trial for the accused including access of international observers to the trial;
2. Calls for the immediate release of the accused unless its conditions are fulfilled;
3. Calls on the Council to send an official delegation to visit the prisoners;
4. Asks the Council, the Member States and the Commission to associate themselves fully with the Parliament's position, to follow closely the way this trial will be conducted and to take due account of its outcome when considering the establishment of more normal and mutually productive relations with Iran, based on respect for fundamental human rights;
5. Calls on the Iranian authorities to endorse a moratorium on the death penalty and to respect the human rights of the prisoners and of religious minorities and the fundamental principles of law and justice;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the government and authorities in Iran, the Government of the United States, the Government of Israel and the President of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
(1) OJ C 54, 23.2.2000, p. 112.