Near and Middle East
As Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula and a close partner of women and human rights organisations in Iraq, Afghanistan or Iran, I often travel to the Near and Middle East. Talking to those in power there is often a balancing act. We need to exchange with them, for example, to organise humanitarian aid or to fight the climate crisis. But it is just as important to clearly name those who commit human rights violations, to support civil society on the ground and to show solidarity with those who stand up for democracy and human rights, even when faced with tough opposition. For me, one thing is clear: a values-driven foreign policy tries to do justice to these different goals as best as it can.
And in doing so, we must not omit another issue: Worldwide, most military equipment is exported to the Near and Middle East. If you need proof that more weapons do not lead to more peace and security, countries like Yemen, Syria or Afghanistan are the best examples. In this context, we must critically rethink our own export policy.
At least one member of the European Parliament has allegedly been implicated in a corruption affair involving Qatar. The actions the member is accused of violate EU rules and destroy EU citizens’ trust in the institution. My statement as Head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula:
At least one Member of the European Parliament is confronted with the allegation to have become a Trojan horse of corruption and foreign interference. My demands:
The Iranian regime added me to its sanctions list. My thoughts:
Dreadful news from Iran, an important decision by the UN Human Rights Council and what still needs to happen – my plenary speech:
When I think of soccer, the first thing that comes to mind are the "Scoring Girls" who play soccer in a refugee camp in Iraq. For me, they embody the true power of soccer – unlike the World Cup in Qatar:
227 members of the Iranian parliament have demanded harsh penalties against protesters. In the European Parliament, we debated the consequences the EU should draw. My plenary speech:
Personally, I believe that the authorisation of the exports was wrong, but I can understand how the German Federal Security Council came to this decision. What must happen now:
Die Kurdin Jina Mahsa Amini wurde wegen eines "falsch sitzenden" Hijabs festgenommen und getötet. Seitdem demonstrieren Menschen im Iran und weltweit für die Freiheit und Grundrechte der Iraner*innen.
The Egyptian-British citizen has been detained in Egypt for more than 1000 days. Last week I met his sister Sanaa Seif.
Kuwait gives its citizens many democratic rights compared to other Gulf monarchies, and is also ahead in women's rights. Yet there is not a single woman in parliament. I travelled to the country - an interview.
Today, the European Commission published its Gulf Strategy, outlining its strategic approach to the region for the years to come. Here's my comment as Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the Arabian Peninsula:
A crackdown on women’s rights, violence, a climate of fear and a humanitarian crisis: Afghanistan is in a sorry state after the Taliban took over. I met with activists, journalists, women’s rights defenders – and also with Taliban representatives.
