Democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Iran

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16328 | 23 January 2026

Signatories:

Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Ms Kolbrún Áslaugar BALDURSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Mr Christophe CHAILLOU, France, SOC ; Mr Jürgen COßE, Germany, SOC ; Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Edite ESTRELA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Piero FASSINO, Italy, SOC ; Ms Aurora FLORIDIA, Italy, SOC ; Mr Vinzenz GLASER, Germany, UEL ; Ms Inge GRÄßLE, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Mr Julian JOSWIG, Germany, SOC ; Ms Franziska KERSTEN, Germany, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Giulia MURATORI, San Marino, SOC ; Mr Sigurður Helgi PÁLMASON, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Ms Azadeh ROJHAN, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Awet TESFAIESUS, Germany, SOC ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Mr Johannes VOLKMANN, Germany, EPP/CD

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

The renewed escalation of nationwide protests in Iran since the end of December 2025 is deeply concerning. These developments reflect a profound political, social and economic crisis, marked by severe economic hardship, widespread poverty and decades of political repression.

The protests increasingly amount to a fundamental rejection of the system of governance of the Islamic Republic, with broad segments of society openly calling for an end to the religious-authoritarian order.

The brutal and systematic repression by the Iranian authorities warrants the strongest condemnation, including the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators, mass arbitrary arrests, torture, sexualised violence, grossly unfair trials and the use of the death penalty as a tool of intimidation. Deliberate efforts to obstruct independent reporting and international scrutiny must likewise be condemned.

Against this background, the Parliamentary Assembly should reaffirm its commitment to the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and clearly state that grave and systematic human rights violations, wherever they occur, constitute a matter of immediate concern. It should also unequivocally condemn the grave, systematic and persistent human rights violations committed by the Iranian authorities, and reaffirm its full solidarity with all individuals and groups in Iran who peacefully strive for freedom, human dignity and fundamental rights. The Assembly should call for strong support for international accountability and investigation mechanisms, in particular within the framework of the United Nations, including efforts to document violations and ensure justice for victims.

The Council of Europe member States and relevant international actors should pursue a consistent, values-based approach towards Iran that places human dignity, freedom and the rule of law above short-term geopolitical considerations.