Iran’s Repression: Arrests, Torture, and the Call for Justice

The European Parliament’s resolution on 12 February 2026 condemns Iran’s systematic oppression of its people. It says the Iranian government uses arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, the death penalty, sexual violence, collective punishment and cruel prison conditions.

• Estimates of people killed in recent protests range from several thousand to more than 35 000, including women, children and the elderly; EU citizens are among the victims.
• Tens of thousands of people have been arrested without access to lawyers, family or proper medical care, and many are tortured or forced to give false confessions.
• These acts meet the definition of crimes against humanity.

The resolution also points out that Iran uses “transnational repression” – for example, the son of a human‑rights defender was detained and tortured because of his mother’s work. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is described as a key part of the repression and has been designated a terrorist organisation by the EU.

Key demands of the resolution:

1. Show solidarity with Iranians and support their right to live free from Islamist rule.
2. Call for the immediate end of the death penalty and all executions.
3. Urge the regime to stop all violence against civilians, release all detainees (including foreign and dual nationals), and stop targeting doctors who treat injured protesters.
4. Ask the UN to document abuses and keep evidence for future prosecutions, and to refer Iran to the International Criminal Court.
5. Condemn the targeting of protesters, activists, journalists, human‑rights defenders, foreign nationals, women, minorities (Kurds, Baluchis, Ahwazi Arabs, Baha’is, Christians, etc.) and call for the release of those held for their ethnicity or religion.
6. Push the EU and its member states to widen sanctions—freezing assets and banning travel for those responsible, including IRGC members, political leaders, prosecutors and security officials—and to stop sanctions evasion.
7. Criticise Iran’s election as UN Vice‑Chair of the Social Development Commission and the UN Secretary‑General’s congratulatory message, saying it legitimises a regime that kills and tortures.
8. Call for the immediate release of all women in detention, especially Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi.
9. Oppose Iran’s use of hostage diplomacy and urge the EU to help families of detainees and prevent further hostage‑taking.
10. Ask the EU to provide protection, humanitarian aid and help restore internet access for those at serious risk.

The resolution instructs the Parliament’s President to send it to the Council, the Commission, the EU’s Vice‑President for Human Rights, member states, the UN and Iranian authorities.