MEPs cancel their visit to Iran. The country refuses to let them see the Sakharov prizes…
(B2) The Iranian authorities refused to allow a delegation of five MEPs to meet this year's Sakharov Prize winners, Nasrin Sotoudeh and Jafar Panahi. A delegation chaired by the Finnish Tarja Cronberg (Greens), responsible for relations between the European Parliament and Iran, was to meet her counterparts from the Majlis (the Iranian parliament) as well as representatives of civil society. On Saturday, as the delegation was preparing to leave, Tehran's ambassador to the EU called Mr. Cronberg, explaining to him that with "such a short time» it was impossible to guarantee that the deputies could personally deliver their letters of invitation to the laureates. The president therefore decided to cancel the visit, which had been seen as an opportunity to renew the dialogue with the Majlis and civil society. It is with the greatest bitterness that the delegation of parliamentarians had to cancel its stay, already all ready, in Iran. "I deeply regret (...) however, the European Parliament remains determined to continue its support for Iranian civil society and to get involved for itdeclared Martin Schulz, the President of the Parliament.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is currently serving a 6-year sentence in Evin prison for "acting against national security" and "propaganda against the regime" and is currently believed to be on a hunger strike in solitary confinement cellular. As for Jafar Panahi, the Iranian director, he has been in prison since 2010. Both were awarded on Friday (October 26), the Sakharov Prize (for freedom of thought), with the unanimity of the political groups. A very political symbol according to Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament. It is “not very clear to the Iranian regime (which) does not respect any of the fundamental freedoms. (...) We want by this choice to express our admiration for a woman and a man who resist the intimidation of which the Iranians are victims”.
