Protests have erupted in Iran following the killing of
22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on 16 September 2022, with
reports suggesting that Iran’s security forces have killed
hundreds of citizens, including at least 44 children, in the
aftermath.
The London Assembly is deeply concerned about
the Iranian regime’s violent treatment of women and men
protesting against the violation of their basic human rights and
recognises the distress that must be felt in London’s Iranian
communities.
Because of this, it has today agreed a motion
calling on the Mayor and the Chair of the Assembly to write
jointly to the Government, on behalf of Londoners, asking it to
call for a halt to executions and to support those protesting in
Iran.
Zack Polanski AM, who proposed the motion,
said:
"The Iranian people have a right to govern themselves, to
democracy, to exercise their rights to freedom of expression,
association and peaceful assembly and to be free of tyranny. We
must listen, and offer our solidarity when the people of Iran are
simply asking us to “Be their voice.”
"So many Iranians, go out in the face of absolute
uncertainty, there is no justice system on which they can
rely.
"This motion urgently calls for the convictions and death
sentences against individuals named by human rights organisations
to be quashed, making a clear and unequivocal public statement of
support from London."
AM, who seconded the
motion, said:
“The Iranian regime’s barbaric treatment of protesters and
reports of security forces killing more than 500 demonstrators,
including 70 children, are abhorrent.
“At least 100 people are said to be facing death sentences
after tens of thousands were arrested – four have already been
executed amid alarming claims of torture and sham
trials.
“We need to show support for the Iranian people, and Iranian
Londoners, and take a stand against a ruthless regime who are
blaming the influence of outsiders to further supress its own
people.
“I am urging the Iranian authorities to stop the violence
against its citizens and end the appalling use of the death
penalty against protesters.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly is deeply concerned about the Iranian regime’s
violent treatment of women and men who are protesting against the
violation of their basic human rights, following the killing of
22 year old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on 16 September 2022.
This Assembly notes Iran’s security forces have since killed
hundreds of citizens, including at least 44 children. Amnesty
International found that most of these children were killed due
to security forces unlawfully firing live ammunition at their
head, heart or other vital organs. More than 18,000 demonstrators
have also been arrested since mid-September.
This Assembly recognises the distress that must be felt by our
friends and neighbours in London’s Iranian communities, including
the approximate 45,0001 Londoners who were born in Iran, as a
result of these actions.
This Assembly notes that Amnesty International has reported that
some of those at imminent risk of execution are: Elham Modaressi;
Sahand Nourmohammad-Zadeh; Mahan Sadrat (Sedarat) Madani;
Manouchehr Mehman Navaz; Mohammad Boroughani; Mohammad Ghobadlou;
Saman Seydi (Yasin); Hamid Ghare Hasanlou; Hossein Mohammadi; an
unnamed individual in Alborz province; Saeed Shirazi; Abolfazl
Mehri Hossein Hajilou; Mohsen Rezazadeh Gharegholou; Akbar
Ghafari; Toomaj Salehi; Ebarhim Rigi; Amir Nasr Azadani; Saleh
Mirhashemi; Saeed Yaghoubi; Farzad (Farzin) Tahazadeh; Farhad
Tahazadeh; Karvan Shahiparvaneh; Reza Eslamdoost; Hajar Hamidi
and Shahram Marouf-Moula.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor and the Chair of the Assembly to
write jointly to the Government, on behalf of Londoners, asking
them to call for a halt to executions and support those in Iran
exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and
peaceful assembly.
Notes to editors:
-
Watch the full
webcast.
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
