Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee today raised concern in the Seanad this week on why Sinn Féin decided to abstain from the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on the brutality happening in Iran.
The resolution condemns the regime’s efforts to censor protests through internet shutdowns and calls on the EU and its Member States to scale up technical and financial support for censorship circumvention tools and protection against cyber and information manipulation.
The resolution was adopted by 562 votes in favour, 9 against and 57 abstentions. MEPs, including those from within Fianna Fáil, have expressed serious alarm that the murder of thousands of protestors in Iran is a chilling shift in the Iranian regime’s suppression of dissent from deterrence to strategic elimination.
The EU Parliament called on the Council to proceed without delay with the full designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Basij militia and the Quds Force, as terrorist organisations. It demands the expansion and strict enforcement of EU restrictive measures, including asset freezes and visa bans, welcomes the recent US sanctions, and calls for swift EU action against all officials and entities responsible for repression.
Speaking in Seanad Éireann, Senator Clifford Lee posed the question as to why Sinn Féin abstained from the resolution in the European Parliament.
“This resolution condemns the slaughter of 30,000 people by the Iranian authorities, condemning the use of execution as a tool of oppression of the people of Iran condemning the treatment of women and supporting the women, life, freedom and pain.
Clifford Lee said: “30,000 people have been slaughtered by the Iranian authorities over the last number of weeks in an attempt to suppress and uprising. People are being executed in their hospital beds, being shot in the head, yet still two Sinn Fein MEPs abstained on this resolution.
She added: “This regime in Iran is extremely evil, yet Sinn Féin cannot bring themselves to condemn this evil regime. I, and the people of Ireland are watching what you’re doing, you cannot get away with your actions without any notice.
ENDS