NCRI – The human rights situation in Iran has not improved since Hassan Rouhani became President two years ago, Kimmo Sasi, a former Member of Parliament from Finland and Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, has said. There have been 2000 executions since Rouhani took office, he added.
Kimmo Sasi, centre, addressing human rights conference in Geneva, September 18, 2015
Mr. Sasi addressed a Geneva conference on September 18 on the sidelines of the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Iranians plan to rally outside the United Nations in New York on September 28 to denounce the visit by the mullahs’ President Hassan Rouhani to the UN General Assembly.
The rally, which is being organized by the Organization of Iranian-American Communities (OIAC), will press the international community to hold the regime in Iran accountable for its abhorrent human rights record.
The mullahs’ regime in Iran continues to execute more of its citizens per capita than any other U.N. member state.
Text of remarks by Mr. Kimmo Sasi, former Member of Parliament from Finland and Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe:
Human Rights Situation in the Middle East
Friday 18 September 2015 (15h30 – 17h00)
Palais des Nations – Room XXI
As we all know, dear friends, Iran has a long history of culture and civilization. But Iran is also a strong player in the Middle East. What that country does in that region has a reflection on other countries and as we see today in Europe in the form of refugees. I have been working in the Finnish parliament as chairman of the Constitutional Committee that is the guardian for human rights and for 12 years in the Council of Europe as a member of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee.
When I look at the situation of today, since the [July 14] nuclear deal was taken all focus is now on that deal and trade relations with Iran. And in fact, the government of Iran has received certain credit for having this deal and it has increased its support to a certain degree in the country. Of course, export, import will also change the situation and landscape of the country. However, the fundamentals in the country have not been changed. The fact is that there is no democracy, no human rights in Iran at the moment. When Mr. Rouhani was elected as President, there were high hopes that there would be a change. Unfortunately there has been no change.
If we try to measure somehow what has happened, the fact is that there have been 2000 executions since he took office. And in fact the executions have been very brutal, there have been stonings and amputation of limbs of the human body of people. The latest statistics of Amnesty International shows there has been 699 executions from the beginning of this year until July 15. Why is all this done? It is to create fear so that people do not want to have any resistance in the country because they have to fear for their lives.
We have to do something and what should be done? The Council of Europe has very good and high human rights standards. And the Council of Europe’s legal rights committee has studied the situation in neighboring areas of the Council of Europe countries. And indeed if Iran would have the same standards as Council of Europe has for human rights, I think it would be the first step to create peace in the whole Middle East.
Mr. [Alejo] Vidal Quadras already mentioned the European Union, and he was in the right line at the moment. As the annual report of the European Union shows there is no human rights dialogue today between the European Union and Iran. In fact, it would be very important that in all relations, to have that human rights dialogue, and to put conditions on any improvement to any relations between Iran and the European Union and the European countries as a condition for improvement of the relations. In fact, the European Parliament has given a declaration in that direction in April 2014, saying that human rights should be an essential part of the relations and be conditioned.
But I plead with the national parliaments as well, that national parliaments would study Iran and put pressure on their own countries that they indeed require when they have relations with Iran so human rights will be part of the conditions in those negotiations. Also in the European Union, the Commission plays in important role and when the Foreign Minister [Federica] Mogherini was in Tehran for a visit, during her visit, 11 people were executed at the same time. That is not the right reflection of the Iranian government when the European Foreign Minister visits their country. There must be conditions for the relations.
I think in the future, trade is very important. I must say, sanctions are a very good way to have influence for democracy and human rights. I think, if there are actions of terrorism they must be fought against with true sanctions. If you take such actions, then you must be somehow punished through trade sanctions. But also for human rights, it is very effective. If people have been participating in infringing human rights severely, those people must be punished through individual sanctions. That is very important, that has been in relations to other countries but it must be in relations to Iranian citizens who infringe human rights severely indeed. What is very important indeed is that when there is trade, the western countries should not trade in any way with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) or the Quds Force, because if we try to benefit them it means that the dictatorship in that country will be kept and will be maintained and you have to oversee with whom you make trade.
In fact, when international labor organizations have rules, they say for example that the conditions for working places must be reasonable, you are not allowed to use child labor, so all companies in the world should look at with whom they make trade. Indeed, all companies should have human rights conditions to their trading partners, cooperation partners. In fact it would be very useful if countries would have a black list. If there is a company of their own country that is making trade with an organization that is strongly supporting infringement of human rights that would be targeted and discussed with the company, and in fact consumer organizations should put such companies on a black list such that buyers can choose whose products they should buy and who’s products they should not buy.
I would like to say that the United Nations is a moral organ for us. I think it is very important that when the General Assembly meets this autumn that they discuss the situation in Iran and take a clear position against infringement of human rights. I think if any organization of human rights has to fight, the United Nations has to fight for human rights. I think the Security Council has to use impunity actions if there are such countries and regimes that severely infringe human rights.
To finalize, I come from a country called Finland and equality is very important for our country. For all countries, if you want to be successful that you utilize and use and free all intellectual resources in your own country. Giving freedom of thought of people. But also you have to use the resources of all sexes and there is a lot of female capital in Iran that can be used for the benefit of the country. Ladies and gentlemen I think there will be a change in Iran that might last for a while but a change will come. And the change will be for democracy and human rights and I hope that moment comes as soon as possible.
Thank you for your attention.
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