FIDH in coordination with its Iranian leagues has been constantly active in informing EU actors about the evolution of the human rights situation in the country and in calling for action, including in the form of public positioning. In the run-up to the EP’s resolution, FIDH sent the latest updates concerning human rights defenders and the situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was tried in abstantia on 30 December 2018, which led to a total condemnation of 33 years of prison.
FIDH places particular importance on relaying the situation of human rights defenders to the relevant bodies. Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh was mentioned in several EP resolutions over the past years, including in December 2018 following her June 2018 arrest and her November 2018 third hunger strike.
Iran: European Parliament calls for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other jailed human rights defenders
The 14 March 2019 resolution on "Iran, notably the case of human rights defenders" calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, prisoners of conscience and journalists detained and sentenced merely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.