Photo by Craig Melville on Unsplash
MEPs have paid tribute to the “brave, defiant women and men” in Iran.
The move comes one year after murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran.
On 16 September 2022, the 22-year-old Iranian woman in a hospital in Tehran under suspicious circumstances. The have been allegations of police brutality, denied by the Iranian authorities.
Her death has sparked waves of protests all over the world.
On Monday, President Roberta Metsola opened the 11-14 September plenary session in Strasbourg with a tribute to people in Iran.
She said, “Parliament proudly stands with the brave, defiant women and men who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran, with 16 September marking one year since the murder of Mahsa Amini.”
President Metsola reiterated what she called Parliament’s “strongest condemnation of the Iranian regime for taking EU and dual nationals hostage.”
The MEP also called for the immediate release of EU official Johan Floderus and professor Ahmad Reza Jalali.
In a plenary debate this week, Parliament in Strasbourg “will remember and honour the legacy of Mahsa Amini and all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty,” she concluded.
The session has also highlighted another key issue: extreme weather in Europe
Dangerous weather conditions have affected huge parts of Europe, said Metsola, with major wildfires and floods having a severe impact on member states such as Spain, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Italy.
Greece has been particularly devastated by the floods and wild fires and the EU has already provided crucial assistance and will continue to do whatever is necessary, she added.
The Maltese deputy announced that she will welcome Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday to “reiterate the EU’s solidarity” to Greece and to discuss EU assistance.
“Our hearts go out to all those who have had their lives and livelihoods destroyed over this summer; the EU institutions will keep supporting those countries that need it”, she told the plenary.
Metsola also expressed her condolences to the family of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir who died in August.
A medical doctor, teacher and MEP, she was known for her devotion to the health of Europeans and, said Metsola, “contributed to establishing the foundations of the European Health Union.”
Metsola led MEPs in a minute of silence to remember Mrs Trillet-Lenoir “and all those who lost their lives this summer.”
