Preamble
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps were established in 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini and are considered the country’s elite military unit. The main task of IRGC is to protect the state ideology, which is highly marked by the inequality of women and minorities. To this end, it uses inhumane methods and has been terrorising the Iranian civilian population for decades. Among other things, the death of the Iranian Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody on the 16th of September 2022 caused ongoing protests for freedom and human rights which were followed by the arrest, torture and murder of hundreds of Iranian citizens by the IRGC. However, IRGC not only perpetrates attacks and violations of human rights in Iran itself, but is also active in Europe. Antisemitic attacks on synagogues in Germany in 2022 are attributed to the IRGC. In addition, European citizens such as the German Jamshid Sharmahd and the Swede Habib Chaab were abducted by it and executed in Iran or are awaiting execution.
In a resolution of the 19th of January 2023, the European Parliament called for the IRGC to be placed on the EU terror list. To date, this has not happened. As young Jews, we want to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran. The activities of the IRGC pose a threat not only to Iranians in exile, but also to Jewish communities in Europe and the State of Israel. The EU must act now.
EUJS notes that:
1. Young Jews stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for freedom, democracy and human rights (e.g. by statements, articles and protests).
2. The IRGC is the executive arm of the inhuman regime and is at the forefront of the violent suppression of the revolution in Iran.
3. The activities of the IRGC are not only a threat to the lives of Iranians inside and outside the country but are also causing a serious threat to Jewish communities and organizations in Europe, and the State of Israel.
EUJS believes that:
1. Young Jews and Europeans must stand in solidarity with the Iranian civilian population in their fight for freedom, democracy and human rights.
2. Jewish institutions must campaign for the IRGC to be placed on the EU terror list.
EUJS resolves to:
1. Advocate for the IRGC to be placed on the EU terror list.
2. Use its outreach and political contacts to highlight the threat to Jews in Europe and in the State of Israel posed by the Iranian regime and its Revolutionary Guard.
