The International Organisation to Preserve Human Rights (IOPHR) welcomes the conclusive and historic vote in the European Parliament this week, in which an overwhelming majority, nearly 90% of all Members of the European Parliament, voted in favour of a resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s brutal repression of protesters.
This extraordinary level of cross‑party support represents one of the strongest and clearest expressions of European solidarity with the Iranian people to date. It sends an unmistakable message: Europe stands united against the systematic human rights violations committed by the Iranian authorities and firmly supports the Iranian people’s struggle for dignity, justice, and fundamental freedoms.
Importantly, the resolution includes explicit support for the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. This marks a significant and long‑awaited step toward holding the IRGC accountable for its central role in orchestrating violence, repression, and human rights abuses both inside and outside Iran.
IOPHR strongly welcomes this development. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, and its designation is essential for disrupting the machinery of state violence that continues to target civilians with impunity.
IOPHR also welcomes the powerful statements issued by European leaders in recent days. Their remarks reflect a growing recognition of the severity of the crisis in Iran and the urgent need for coordinated international action.
These statements, calling for accountability, transparency, and an end to state violence, demonstrate moral clarity and reinforce the EU’s longstanding commitment to human rights. They also provide vital encouragement to the people of Iran, who continue to risk their lives to demand justice and freedom.
The European Parliament’s vote marks a significant step toward establishing meaningful international mechanisms to address the Iranian regime’s ongoing violations. The resolution’s immense support underscores the urgency of:
- Independent investigations into the mass killings, torture, and enforced disappearances of protesters.
- Targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses.
- Proscription of the IRGC, ensuring accountability for its role in domestic repression and regional destabilisation.
- Protection for Iranian civil society, including activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
- Strengthened diplomatic pressure to halt the regime’s violent repression of peaceful demonstrators.
IOPHR urges all EU institutions and member states to translate this strong parliamentary mandate into concrete, coordinated action.
IOPHR stands firmly with the European Union, its leaders, and its elected representatives in their commitment to defending human rights and supporting the Iranian people. The organisation remains dedicated to working closely with European partners to ensure that the voices of victims, families, and civil society are heard and that justice is pursued without delay.
The courage of the Iranian people deserves nothing less than the full and resolute support of the international community.