The European Parliament adopted three separate resolutions on Thursday demanding stronger international action over human rights violations in Iran, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, including calls for expanded sanctions, prisoner releases, and, in Iran's case, referral to the International Criminal Court.
Iran: Death Penalty, Gender Apartheid, and Broader Sanctions
MEPs described Iran as the country with the highest number of executions per capita in the world and denounced what they characterised as an unprecedented scale of violence by the authorities against the civilian population since January 2026. The resolution singles out the intensification of attacks against human rights activists and journalists, as well as prosecutions of protesters based on confessions obtained through torture. Parliament called for the annulment of death sentences against Taraneh Rahimi, 20, and Leila Abolhasani, 43, both convicted following protests, and noted that Rahimi's sister Romina received a long prison sentence. MEPs expressed deep concern over the rising number of women convicted, the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and transnational repression by the regime. They called for gender apartheid to be recognised as a crime against humanity under international law, demanded abolition of the death penalty, and urged a broadening of existing sanctions. The UN's independent international fact-finding mission should be intensified to gather evidence and identify those responsible, MEPs added. The resolution passed by 541 votes in favour, 11 against, and 25 abstentions.
Georgia: Political Prisoners and EU Membership at Stake
Parliament strongly condemned the Georgian Dream party's attempts to ban opposition parties, calling such moves incompatible with democracy and an obstacle to EU membership. MEPs demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and peaceful protesters, naming specifically Elene Khoshtaria, 2025 Sakharov Prize laureate Mzia Amaglobeli, Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Baramidze, and Nika Melia. Deploring what they described as a lack of action by the EU and its member states, MEPs reiterated their call for targeted sanctions against those responsible, naming Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, and Kakha Kaladze. The resolution passed by 445 votes in favour, 37 against, and 97 abstentions.
Azerbaijan: Partnership Conditioned on Prisoner Releases
Any future EU-Azerbaijan partnership agreement must be conditional on tangible improvements in human rights, including the release of political prisoners, MEPs stated. While welcoming Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu's recent arrival in Europe for urgent medical treatment, Parliament called for all prosecutions against him to be dropped. MEPs also condemned the detention of Ali Karimli, President of the Azerbaijani People's Front, along with Anar Mammadli and journalist Anar Abdullayev, demanding their immediate release and citing serious allegations of ill-treatment. Parliament called on the EU High Representative to prepare targeted measures under the EU Global Sanctions Regime. The resolution passed by 492 votes in favour, 23 against, and 60 abstentions.
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