The Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council (APK-N) decided by 17 votes to 6 to ask the Bundesrat by letter to accept EU sanctions in connection with the “brutal repression of demonstrators”, as the parliamentary services announced on Tuesday.
In the same letter, a majority wants to call on the state government to include the protection of Iran’s civilian population and respect for human rights in the country as part of Switzerland’s priorities during its seat on the UN Security Council. This was decided by the APK-N with 15 votes in favour, 6 against and 2 abstentions.
The Federal Council must support civil society in Iran
The National Council Commission is also keeping its finger on the pulse of Iranian civil society: with a motion passed by 18 votes in favor and 5 against, it wants to order the Federal Council to take measures to support the people of Iran in the fight for women’s rights and human rights rights.
The same motion requires the Federal Council to adopt sanctions against members of the Iranian government, which the EU has decided on over human rights violations in the country. The SVP rejects the motion. The sister committee in the Council of States has also submitted a motion to support civil society.
Sanctions also subject to the Council of States
Sanctions against Iran were also discussed in the committee of the Council of States. However, the Council of States then rejected a motion by a committee to approve these sanctions by 8 to 5 votes. The majority supported the Bundesrat’s considerations against sanctions.
The two chambers then decide on the motions.
Since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was beaten to death by Iranian “moral police” in mid-October for improperly wearing her headscarf, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets against the mullahs’ regime in all corners of Iran. Iranians are calling for the end of the regime of religious leader Ali Khamenei.
The Islamic Republic has responded to the protests with physical violence. Dozens of protesters have already been killed by the police, army and Badjir militias, including children. Thousands were injured, abducted or assaulted. (SDA)