Speeches

Madam President, Ahmadreza Djalali is a dual Swedish—Iranian citizen, therefore a European citizen, who is planned to be executed after an unfair trial after fake accusations of espionage. Arbitrary detentions of foreign nationals by Iran and other regimes is becoming common and we need also, I think, international action against arbitrary detention of foreign nationals. In this particular case, Europe cannot allow the execution of Professor Djalali, a scholar who has devoted his life to advanced emergency medicine for the benefit of all. So I would like to join in everyone’s demand for the immediate release of Professor Djalali. Europe is the world beacon of human rights. We have a duty to mobilise all our political capital to save Professor Djalali. Europe has the tools, with the Navalny Act. The assets of all Iranian officials and entities involved in this arbitrary detention should be frozen. I want to tell the Iranian authorities and the newly—elected president that political executions are never a sign of strength, but the opposite. Professor Djalali, we are doing everything it takes to bring justice to you and to bring you home. Free Djalali!

Madam President, let me start by congratulating my colleague Tanja Fajon on the successful outcome of the negotiations on these reports, which are indispensable for supporting people in need of international protection. But the situation in the Mediterranean, Commissioner, is going from bad to worse. Deaths this year have tripled and we still don't have a plan to deal with the surge in arrivals, which we know happens every year. In the meantime, the EPP Group in this House seems hostage to the discourse of the far right. Gentlemen of the far right, I look at you. They have just published a statement on the future of Europe in which they claim that it is founded on Christian values. Well, let's see what the Pope says about Christian values, shall we? Some authority I say you will have in the matter. He says that migration is not a threat to Christianity, that rejecting an immigrant in difficulty, regardless of religious denomination, is a grotesque falsification of Christianity. I conclude with a quote from the Gospel. Jesus said: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35).