NCRI – In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg last Thursday, June 19, 2008, the European Parliament noted with concern that "the general human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate since 2005, and executions almost doubled in 2007."

The resolution reiterated that "Iran is known to have executed more juvenile offenders than any other country in the world, and according to reports more than 100 individuals are on death row in Iran for crimes allegedly committed when under the age of 18."

Appalled by growing number of executions in Iran, the European Parliament "Strongly condemns the death sentences and executions in Iran, in particular those imposed or carried out on juvenile offenders and minors, and urges the Iranian authorities to respect internationally recognized legal safeguards with regard to minors."

The European Parliament "Stresses that juvenile death sentences are in direct contravention of the international obligations and commitments to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory, specifically as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both clearly prohibiting the execution of minors or people who have been convicted of crimes committed when they were minors."

The resolution "Condemns in the strongest possible terms the execution of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was under the age of 18 when he was executed." According to the Resistance's sources he was only 14 at the time of alleged crime.

In its paragraph 7, the European Parliament urged the Member States "to suspend the expulsion to Iran of persons who are threatened with execution or torture."

Finally the Euro MPs instructed the President of the Parliament to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General and the UN Human Rights Council.

For full text of the resolution click here