Foreign Affairs

A Push For Reforms In Iran

Emma led calls for the continuation of the reform process in Iran. She was a regular visitor to Iran and, although disappointed at the expulsion of many liberal candidates from the parliamentary election in 2004, she firmly believes that dialogue between Iran and the EU must continue.

In the European Parliament Emma welcomed Shirin Ebadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work defending the rights of Iranian women. Emma said: “Shirin Ebadi is a source of hope for all of us who believe that human rights should form the cornerstone of efforts to reform Iran. She is truly an inspiration to millions of women in deprived situations and offers a shining example of how to work within the system to champion human rights. She is a worthy winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.”