k / T 1 t
European Communities -
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Working I ocuments
198O 1981
16 SEPTEMBER 1980 DQCUM T 1-397/80/rev
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
tabled by Mr LALOR and Mr ISRAEL on behalf of
the Group of European Progressive Democrats,
Mr GLINNE and Mrs van den HEUVEL on behalf
• of the Socialist Group,
Mr KLEPSCH, Mrs CASSANMAGNAGO CERRETTI
Mr VERGEERand others on behalf of the
European Peopl&s Party,
Mr SCOTT—HOPKINS, Mr PURVIS, Mr PRAG and others'
on behalf of the European Democratic Group,
• Mr BANGEMANN and Mr BER OUWER on behalf of the
Liberal and Democratic Group
with request for urgent debate
pursuant to Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure
on the persecution of the members of the
Bahai community in Iran
The request for urgent debate was also signed by Mr BATTERSBY,
Mr 8EAZLEY, Lord BETHELL, Miss BROOKES, Mr CURRY, Mr de FERRANTI,
Mr FERGUSSON, Mr HARRIS, Miss HOOPER, Mr HUTTON, Mr KELLETT-BOWMAN,
Mrs KELLETT-BOWMAN, Mr KIRK, Mr de COURCY LING , Mr MØLLER, Mr MORELAND,
Sir David NICOLSON, Mr PATTERSON, Mr PRAG, Mr PRICE, Mr PROVAN,
Mr PURVIS, Miss ROBERTS, Mr SELIGMAN, Mr SHERLOCK, Mr SIMMONDS,
Mr SPENCER, Mr SPICER, Sir John STEWART-CLARX Mr TURNER, Mr TYRRELL,
Sir Frederick WARNER and Mr WELSH
English Edition PE 67 0 422/rev.
13P000424
The European Parliament ,
- recalling its unfailing attachment to international protection of human
rights,
- recognizing in particular the need to rotsct the rights of religious
minorities in all countries,
- concerned at the systematic campaign of persecution directed in Iran
against the 300,000 members of the Bahai community (the biggest religious
minority in Iran) and the accompanying violations of elementary human
rights, in particular:
(a) the refusal of any legal protection to the Eahai minority,
(b) the summary arrazt, detention and execution of leaders of the Bahai
community,
(c) the confiscation or destruction of the resources and means of
subsistence of the Bahai and the arbitrary dismissals or refusals
to employ l3ahais,
(d) the threats and acts of violence against the Bahais in an attempt
to force them to repudiate their faith,
1. Condemns the violation of the human rights of all religious minorities
in Iran, more particularly the members of the Bahai faith whose rights
as a religious minority are not recognized by the Iranian constitution;
2. Calls upon the Government of Iran to grant the Bahai community the
legal recognition and protection to which all minorities are entitled
under the provisions of the various UN pacts and conventions on
human rights;
3. Also condemns the illegal measures taken against Catholic and Anglican
leaders and the execution of leading members of the Jewish community;
4. Calls upon the Foreign Ministers of the European Communities meeting
in political cooperation to make urgent representations to the Iranian
authorities to put an end to the persecution of the members of the
Bahai community and to allow them to practi6e their religion freely
arid enjoy all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Foreign Ministers
meeting in political cooperation, to the Government of Iran, to the
governments and parliaments of the Member States and to the Secretary—
General of the Unit d Nattons -
All the evidence suggests that the arrests and executions of the Bahais
are continuing to increase and are being carried out according to a
pre—arranged plan. Only a speedy response by the European Parliament
can stop these developments. PE 67.422/rev.
