Protection of Iranian migrants and diaspora communities in Europe

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16487 | 23 September 2026

Signatories:

Mr Dominik OBERHOFER, Austria, ALDE ; Mr Mehmet AKALIN, Türkiye, ALDE ; Mr Marek BOROWSKI, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Nikolla CAMAJ, Montenegro, ALDE ; Mr Patrick CASEY, Ireland, ALDE ; Mr Damien COTTIER, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER, Austria, EPP/CD ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr Martin GRAF, Austria, ECPA ; Mr Erich HESS, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Szymon HOŁOWNIA, Poland, ALDE ; Ms Mia KARAMEHIĆ-ABAZOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALDE ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Carmen LEYTE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Andreas MINNICH, Austria, EPP/CD ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Rian VOGELS, Netherlands, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly adopted Resolutions 2570 (2024), 2660 (2026) and 2669 (2026).

The continuing transnational repression carried out by the Iranian authorities against members of the Iranian diaspora, dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists and other critical voices in Council of Europe member States is concerning.

In September 2026, international reports emerged concerning the establishment of the Iranian online portal “Aladj” (“Healing”). Through this portal and related social media channels, individuals abroad can be reported for alleged activities against Iran’s “national security”. According to reports, hundreds of individuals have already been reported, and information concerning Iranians living abroad has been published.

Transnational repression by the Islamic Republic of Iran follows a systematic pattern. Iranian intelligence and security services have been active in Europe for decades. Their activities encompass a broad range of measures – from targeted espionage, discrediting and intimidation to threats and acts of violence.

Such State-supported systems facilitate and encourage denunciation, surveillance, intimidation and threats, creating a climate of fear within Iranian diaspora communities in Europe. No one living in a Council of Europe member State should have to refrain from exercising their freedom of expression or their political and civic rights for fear of a foreign regime.

The Assembly should therefore prepare a report on transnational repression by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Iranian diaspora in Europe, with particular attention to new digital tools of surveillance and denunciation.

The report should examine, in particular, how member States can better protect persons at risk, establish secure and easily accessible reporting mechanisms, actively inform affected diaspora communities, identify digital threats at an early stage, and improve co-operation between the police, security services and the judiciary. It should also examine measures against individuals and entities involved in transnational repression on European soil.