Feb 09, 2008

Ahwazi: German MEP Condemns Iran


A German member of the European Parliament has voiced his group's opposition to the Iranian government's execution of Ahwazi Arab activist Zamel Bawi.

A German member of the European Parliament has voiced his group's opposition to the Iranian government's execution of Ahwazi Arab activist Zamel Bawi.

Below is an article published by Al Ahwaz News:

A leading German member of the United European Left group in the European Parliament has voiced his group's opposition to the Iranian government's execution of Ahwazi Arab activist Zamel Bawi and the threat of further executions.

This week [04-02-2008], the United European Left voted against a resolution that included condemnation of the execution campaign against Ahwazi activists, including a Dutch citizen and two UNHCR-registered refugees who were kidnapped in Syria in 2006, as well as other human rights issues, the nuclear program and EU-Iran relations.

In an email to Karim Abdian, the Chairman of the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO), Tobias Pfläger MEP explained that the group voted against the European Parliament resolution on Iran due to its concerns over an unrelated paragraph on the issue of Iran's nuclear program which he feared would make it possible to introduce "counterproductive sanctions as steps to a possible war against Iran." He said: "In the negotiations we supported the human rights aspects of the resolution," adding that the left-wing group of MEPs supported the paragraph condemning the executions of Ahwazi Arabs.

Daniel Brett, Chairman of the British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS), welcomed Mr Pfläger's condemnation of executions. He said: "We believe that Mr Pfläger's position is shared by the Greens who voted against the resolution on Iran and who have consistently opposed the death penalty. We urge all MEPs to make human rights central to EU relations with Iran, instead of being side-tracked by the issue of Iran's nuclear proliferation which serves as a convenient distraction for the regime. The persecution of minorities, such as Ahwazi Arabs, should be an important aspect of human rights dialogue."