Four years after the killing of the 22 year-old woman Jina Mahsa Amini and the launch of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, and in the wake of the nationwide protests in January 2026, during which thousands of protesters were murdered, the EU commends the courage of Iranian women and men and supports their aspirations for a future where their universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected, protected and fulfilled.
The war has added an additional layer of suffering. We are deeply saddened by the loss of innocent people killed in the strikes.
The current pace of executions in Iran is appalling. The EU has a firm and principled opposition to the use of capital punishment in all cases and in all circumstances. The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.
The EU and its Member States stand united in condemning the continuous repression carried out by the Iranian authorities, including the systematic use of capital punishment, violence, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics to silence critical voices.
The EU and its Member States call on the Iranian authorities to cease the violence and repression against their own people.