Iran faces human-rights offensive

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 13/10/05

Just weeks after sponsoring a resolution condemning Iran's uranium enrichment programme at the International Atomic Energy Agency, the EU is looking into funding human rights and media activists inside the country.

The move marks a significant ramping up of pressure on Tehran, as the EU continues to press the regime to provide guarantees that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes.

While the EU has requested regular discussions on human rights with Iran, it has so far refrained from supporting non-governmental activists, for fear of straining relations with the country's authorities.

But as fears grow over the policies of the new government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and its stance on human rights, the EU looks poised to cross that threshold.

A human rights dialogue set up in 2002 has so far failed to produce results and Iran has resisted pressure to agree to a new date for the next round of talks.

The European Commission is to present some of its ideas on supporting groups inside the country at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on 7 November.

According to researchers at Human Rights Watch, who asked not to be named because they wish to return to Iran, recent months have seen negative developments in the cases of two prominent pro-democracy campaigners, Abdolfattah Soltani and Akbar Ganji.

In Tehran, a city-wide "morality drive" has seen hundreds arrested.

A Commission spokesperson confirmed that certain ideas were being "reflected on".

Human rights and media non-governmental organisations would benefit from any assistance.

But External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner is also said to favour assistance for environmental and social groups.

But the move may prove unpopular in a country whose leaders, since the Islamic revolution in 1979, have deeply vilified the West.

During a visit to the European Parliament in February 2004, Nobel laureate and human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi urged the EU not to provide funds for pro-democracy activists.

"Don't give us financial help because we'll be accused of being spies.

"We need your spiritual aid but not your financial help," she told MEPs.

It is as yet unclear how the move may influence attempts to get Iran to return to the negotiating table to discuss its nuclear programme.

Many analysts cite the fear of regime change or interference from Western powers as the major justification for a nuclear weapons programme among some sections of the Iranian political elite.

But a UK diplomat sought to distance the two issues.

"I don't think anybody is holding up what may be happening inside Iran [regarding human rights] in discussions on the nuclear question, we certainly won't." the UK diplomat said.

An Iranian spokesperson refused to comment.

Article reports on plans by the European Union to fund human rights and media activists inside Iran. Author suggests that this move marked a significant increase of pressure on Tehran, as the EU continued to press the regime to provide guarantees that its nuclear programme was for purely civilian purposes.

EEAS: Countries: Iran http://www.eeas.europa.eu/iran/index_en.htm

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