ECR Group Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini has welcomed European Parliament President Roberta Metsola’s intervention on the case of Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg on Monday.

Taraneh has been sentenced to death and Romina to 25 years in prison after reportedly facing torture and forced confessions.

Procaccini said:

“I greatly appreciated President Metsola raising the case of the Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi in the Chamber today, as I had requested in the Conference of Presidents. I know that much more needs to be done to raise awareness of this dramatic case, while Taraneh’s execution appears increasingly imminent.

“It is essential that the Iranian authorities understand that carrying out Taraneh’s death sentence would further discredit the regime internationally.

“Europe cannot remain silent in the face of yet another threat of a death sentence for taking part in an anti-government protest. We must keep the spotlight on this case and use every institutional avenue available to call for this execution not to be carried out.”