![\"Iran-EU-relations-15122020\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Iran-EU-relations-15122020.jpg\" "\\"Iran-EU-relations-15122020\\"")
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On Saturday, Iran\u2019s clerical regime executed Ruhollah Zam, a European resident. France, Germany, and several other countries condemned this execution. In response, the regime summoned their Ambassadors in Tehran. What encouraged the mullahs\u2019 regime to do this?
\nBriefly, the European Unions\u2019 appeasement policy has emboldened the mullahs to not only continue human rights violations but to show extreme reactions to the slightest opposition to its barbaric manners.<\/p>\n
On December 7, EU foreign ministers adopted<\/a> the \u201cglobal human rights sanctions regime,\u201d targeting those responsible for serious human rights violations. A week after adopting this sanctions regime, the EU\u2019s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was scheduled to hold the Europe-Iran Business Forum. He was meant to deliver a joint keynote address at this event with Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif<\/a>, whose ministry defended the latest human rights violation by summoning France and Germany\u2019s ambassadors in Tehran.<\/p>\n Although this Forum was canceled at the last minute due to Ruhollah Zam\u2019s execution<\/a>, but holding this event in the first place was wrong. Iran\u2019s human rights violations are not limited to this recent execution. And this is not the first time that Zarif and his ministry support human rights violations and try to whitewash the regime\u2019s crimes.<\/p>\n What message does holding such events send to the regime other than encouraging it to continue human rights violations and that the EU will prioritize the economy over its humanitarian values.<\/p>\n France, where Zam was residing, and the EU condemned his execution. But a mere condemnation, after the deed is done, without any decisive action before the execution, has no effect.<\/p>\n The international community\u2019s inaction toward human rights violations in Iran, starting in the 1980s, has emboldened the regime to continue its human rights abuses.<\/p>\n Last week, seven United Nations special rapporteurs and experts officially announced<\/a> the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners could amount to \u201ccrimes against humanity.\u201d They showed their support for an international investigation while underlining the world community\u2019s inaction has emboldened the regime to continue its human rights violations.<\/p>\n A testament to this fact is the massacre of 1500 protesters<\/a> during the nationwide Iran protests<\/a> in November 2019. When in September 2019, the European countries allowed Zarif to step on their soil, they had already accepted the human rights violations. During his visit to Nordic countries, Zarif blatantly threatened Iranian expatriates, who were protesting his presence in Europe, to be \u201ceaten alive\u201d by the regime\u2019s thugs in Iran and the region.<\/p>\n When the regime executed a detained protester and a national wrestling champion, Navid Afkari<\/a>, in September 2020, despite international outcries, it showed simple condemnation of human rights violations would not stop this regime and its human rights abuses.<\/p>\n Europe has to change course in dealing with this regime. Sadly, in announcing the Forum was postponed, organizers said they look forward to holding the conference soon, adding: \u201cEuropean and Iranian policymakers continue to engage in the necessary dialogue to establish the appropriate conditions for effective economic diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n European and Iranian policymakers continue to engage in the necessary dialogue to establish the appropriate conditions for effective economic diplomacy. <\/p>\n A statement from the organizing committee of the #EuropeIranBusinessForum<\/a>.https:\/\/t.co\/4jRje4DfKD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ozNFphiPVU<\/a><\/p>\n — Europe-Iran Business Forum (@EUIranBizForum) December 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"europeiranbusinessforum-2020\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/europeiranbusinessforum-2020.jpg\" "\\"europeiranbusinessforum-2020\\"")
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