L-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard, Viċi President tad-Delegazzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew għar-relazzjonijiet mal-Iran, iltaqa’ ma’ rappreżentanti tal-komunità Iranjana f’Malta biex jiddiskutu s-sitwazzjoni allarmanti fl-Iran u l-bżonn urġenti ta’ rispons u azzjoni internazzjonali.
Matul il-laqgħa ġie diskuss l-impatt tar-ripressjoni kontinwa, inkluż l-arresti arbitrarji, il-vjolenza, u l-qtugħ tal-internet u tal-mezzi tal-komunikazzjon biex ir-reġim ibeżża’, isikket u jiċċensura lill-poplu. Id-diskussjoni ffukat fuq is-sitwazzjoni tan-nisa, iż-żgħażagħ, is-soċjetà ċivili u l-minoranzi etniċi u reliġjużi, kif ukoll fuq ir-responsabbiltà tal-komunità internazzjonali li tiddefendi d-drittijiet fundamentali u tiġġieled l-impunità.
Il-laqgħa ġiet fi tmiem ġimgħa deċiżiva fil-Parlament Ewropew, li adotta b’maġġoranza kbira riżoluzzjoni li tikkundanna r-ripressjoni brutali kontra d-dimostranti fl-Iran. Ir-riżoluzzjoni, iffirmata wkoll minn Attard fi rwol tiegħu ta’ Viċi President tad-Delegazzjoni għall-Iran, titlob azzjoni konkreta mill-Unjoni Ewropea, inkluż sanzjonijiet fuq ir-reġim u fuq dawk involuti fil-qtil u r-ripressjoni, investigazzjoni internazzjonali, u li l-Korp tal-Gwardja Rivoluzzjonarja Iranjana (IRGC) jitqiesu bħala organizzazzjoni terroristika.
Fid-diskors tiegħu fil-plenarja qabel il-vot, Attard saħaq li dak li qed jiġri fl-Iran mhuwiex sempliċi instabbiltà jew protesti iżolati, iżda ripressjoni sistematika, fejn il-ġustizzja qed tintuża bħala arma kontra l-poplu.
Attard qajjem ukoll is-suġġett direttament mal-President tal-Kunsill Ewropew, u appella għal soluzzjoni fil-Kunsill sabiex l-UE tkun tista’ tipproċedi b’azzjoni deċiżiva. Huwa wissa li kull dewmien ikun qed jgħin lil min qed jikser id-drittijiet tal-bniedem.
“Il-Parlament Ewropew tkellem b’mod ċar,” qal Attard. “Issa wasal iż-żmien li l-Kunsill jallinja ruħu u l-Kummissjoni taġixxi.”
Attard ġedded l-impenn tiegħu li jkompli jaħdem favur il-ġustizzja, il-libertà u d-dinjità tal-poplu Iranjan, filwaqt li enfasizza li l-futur tal-Iran għandu jiddeċiedih il-poplu, fid-diversità kollha tiegħu.
Daniel Attard meets Iranian community in Malta and strengthens call for decisive EU action
MEP Daniel Attard, Vice-Chair of the Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Iran, met with representatives of the Iranian community in Malta to discuss the increasingly alarming situation in Iran and the urgent need for a serious and sustained international response.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the impact of ongoing repression, including arbitrary arrests, executions, systematic violence, and the deliberate shutdown of internet and communication channels aimed at intimidating, silencing, and censoring the population. Particular attention was given to the situation of women, youth, civil society, and ethnic and religious minorities, as well as to the responsibility of the international community to defend fundamental rights and combat impunity.
The meeting followed a decisive week in the European Parliament, which adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution condemning the brutal repression against protesters in Iran. The resolution, co-signed by Attard in his capacity as Vice-Chair of the Iran delegation, calls for concrete EU action, including targeted sanctions against the Iranian regime and those responsible for killings and repression, international accountability and investigative mechanisms, and the long-overdue designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Speaking during the plenary debate ahead of the vote, Attard stressed that what is unfolding in Iran is not instability or isolated protests, but systematic repression, with the justice system being used as a weapon against the population. He underlined that violence and censorship are signs of institutional weakness, not strength.
As part of his engagement this week, Attard also raised the issue directly with the President of the European Council, calling for the current impasse in the Council to be overcome so that the EU can move forward with decisive action. He warned that any further delay only benefits those responsible for human rights violations and undermines the credibility of the European Union.
“The European Parliament has spoken clearly,” Attard said. “Now the Council must align and the Commission must act. Words alone are no longer enough.”
Attard concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continue advocating for justice, freedom, and dignity for the people of Iran, stressing that the future of the country must be decided by its people themselves, in all their diversity.