Demanding Political Sponsorship for Political Prisoners in Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran is carrying out executions following grossly unfair trials, including against political prisoners, protesters, and individuals detained solely for exercising fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and freedom of belief; Many detainees face an imminent risk of execution after judicial proceedings that fail to meet international standards of due process, transparency, and access to independent legal representation; Political sponsorship by elected representatives is a recognized and effective international human rights advocacy tool that increases visibility, accountability, and protection for individuals at risk of execution or other serious human rights violations; The European Union is founded on respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights, and has a longstanding and unequivocal commitment to the global abolition of the death penalty; Therefore, we, the undersigned, call upon the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to: • Publicly support and encourage political sponsorship by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for individuals imprisoned in Iran who face execution or risk of execution; • Formally recognize political sponsorship as a protective human rights mechanism and encourage its use by EU institutions and Member States; Establish or support a clear, transparent framework to facilitate and coordinate political sponsorship of individuals facing execution or severe human rights violations; • Take immediate diplomatic and international action, including through resolutions, sanctions mechanisms, and multilateral pressure, to compel the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt executions and release all political prisoners.