Iran: “We cannot leave the people alone” says MEP

Events in Tehran over the last 10 days have captured the world's attention. As hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to protest at the election results the regime has been shaken by the worst protests since fall of the Shah in 1979. The West has condemned the use of violence against protestors and restrictions on the media. Parliament's President Hans-Gert Pöttering has warned that “we have a moral obligation not to shut our eyes to what is happening”.

The death-toll from the protests is unclear although the shooting of student Neda Salehi Agha-Soltan, filmed and distributed via the internet, has become a cause celebre and a rallying point for opposition to President Ahmadinejad.
 
Media crackdown condemned by EU leaders
 
At a meeting last week EU leaders condemned “the use of violence against protesters resulting in the loss of lives”.
 
In remarks at the start of that summit Mr Pöttering also expressed deep concerns about the increasing violence in Iran: “This is further proof of the inadequate rule of law, particularly the restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration in Iran” he said.
 
The summit agreed a declaration on Iran condemning “the crackdown against journalists, media outlets, communications and protester” which it said “are in contrast to the relatively open and encouraging period in the run up to the election”.
 
For the head of the Parliament's delegation to Iran, German Green MEP Angelika Beer, the declaration of the Council “falls far short” and she has herself called for new elections in Iran.

Mrs Beer went on to say that: “The opposition and also the people demand new elections. The European Parliament as well as EU should join this demand and make sure to be ready to send international observers to the election this time.”
 
Beer: “Iran at a crossroads”
 
In her opinion Iran is now standing at the decisive crossroads: either there will be a bloodshed or a new Iran will open to the world: “What I am mostly concerned about is that the people who are demonstrating for their freedom will be murdered and that it will come to a massacre” she said.
 
“Therefore, we can not leave the people alone” she said and called on the international community to support civil society in Iran.
 
In further remarks Mr Pöttering said the protestors had popular support: “The EU can not ignore the impressive mobilisation of civil society which has taken to the streets of Teheran and other Iranian cities in recent days. The refuting of the official election results is not limited to small elite. This movement is being directed by reformers and has broad popular support.