The EU must not ignore human rights violations in Iran for trade and short term financial gain

Written by ACI in 13 December 20

The EU and the global community are well aware of the extent of violations of rights of the Iranian people at the hands of the Islamic regime. The EU and the global community are well aware of the destructive role the Islamic Republic plays in the region and the wider international community through its proxies.

Josep Borrell Fontelles

Commission Vice-President in charge of coordinating the external action of the EU

By email (@JosepBorrellF)

Dear Commission Vice President,

The EU must not ignore human rights violations in Iran for trade and short term financial gain

For forty two years the wealth and assets of the Iranian people have been squandered by a regime that for the duration has benefited greatly through sanction busting and money laundering.

In November 2019 as access to the internet was cut off an estimated 1500 people were shot and killed by regime’s agents while hundreds of thousands of people rallied nationwide for a better life and against the unacceptable increase in the price of petrol. Since then, the Iranians have experienced one of the darkest years of their lives under Islamic rule. While the media reports daily on trials of corruption and embezzlement on an astronomical scale by the regime’s elite, ordinary Iranians buy bread on credit by putting their ID cards as collateral with local bakers.

For forty two years the regime has ruled through state sponsored terrorism against its people. Europe’s efforts in maintaining trade – call it dialogue – with one of the biggest violators of rights have not gone unnoticed by the Iranian people. While on one hand on December 10, 2020, the EU launched a new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime declaring ‘more human rights means more freedom, prosperity and peace, for us all’; on the other hand its principles and ambassadors to the Islamic Republic plan to participate in a Europe-Iran Business Forum.

The EU and the global community are well aware of the extent of violations of rights of the Iranian people at the hands of the Islamic regime. The EU and the global community are well aware of the destructive role the Islamic Republic plays in the region and the wider international community through its proxies.

The question remains Sir, how are you going to be more “assertive” and what actions will the EU take to defend the rights of the Iranian people when their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights have been so brazenly violated? History has shown that violent dictatorships such as the Islamic Republic will not last what will your answer be to the Iranian people then?

ACI calls on the international community, including member states of the EU, to not standby in silence. We call on you to not trade the future and the rights of Iranian people for short term economic gain.

Respectfully,

Dr Hossein Ladjevardi

President – ACI