Mick Wallace: Condemns Iran Crackdown but Votes Against Resolution

MEP Mick Wallace condemned the crackdown and killings of protesters in Iran and said he abhors the death penalty. He voted against the resolution, arguing it contained lies and omissions and would further harm ordinary people through more sanctions.

Condemnation of violence

He condemned the nature of the crackdown, calling the numbers of protesters killed in the streets a travesty, and reiterated his abhorrence of the death penalty.

Reasons for opposing the resolution

He said there were too many lies and omissions in the resolution and that those flaws compelled his vote against it. Wallace argued the text failed to address important causes and misrepresented aspects of the unrest.

External interference and arms

He warned that the US and some of its allies were looking for regime change and had boasted about getting arms to groups in Iran who have also become involved in the protests, a factor he said complicates the situation.

Sanctions and the UN Charter

He asserted that Western sanctions are the biggest killer in Iran and hurt ordinary people the most, noting sanctions are illegal unless authorised by the UN and criticising the EU for ignoring the UN Charter while calling for more sanctions.

Support for protesters

He described the demonstrations as peaceful, said many young people have had enough of the overbearing influence of religion on how their society is organised, and added that if he were in Iran he would be protesting too.