Greens demand an end to the killing of citizens by the Iranian regime

The Green Party of Ireland and the European Greens are calling for increased sanctions on Iran by the EU in the wake of the killing of hundreds of people protesting against human rights violations in Iran.

Green Party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Councillor Janet Horner said:

“I am horrified by the violence being perpetrated against peaceful protesters by the Iranian regime. I want to express our solidarity with Iranian women and girls who have suffered systematic gender discrimination at the hands of that regime and encourage international solidarity in the women's movement there.

I continue to urge the EU to increase sanctions against Iran, and for Ireland to use all bilateral relations to call for restraint and for all international actors to operate through diplomacy and multilateral channels.

The Green Party stands with those fighting for freedom. It is always inspiring to know that people will rise up against oppression, despite the awful cost they bear.”

The European Green Party strongly condemns the Iran authorities' violent repression of peaceful protests that includes killings and mass arrests. The European Greens call on the European Union to move beyond statements and take decisive action against those responsible.

Ciarán Cuffe, European Green Party Co-Chair, said:

'International law is clear. People have the right to peaceful protest and to express themselves freely, and the Iranian regime is bound to respect those rights. When peaceful demonstrators are killed and repression is systematic, words are not enough. The Iranian regime has been particularly repressive to women - whose voices are being finally heard on the streets in recent days.

The European Union must act now with targeted sanctions, and finally list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, a long standing demand of the European Greens.’