Debate contributions by Evin INCIR

You and your colleagues in ECR are shamelessly blaming Greta Thunberg and migration for antisemitism, but I have a question for you. Have you discussed with your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats, why they support a government in Sweden that made an agreement with the antisemite and Hamas-loving Prime Minister of Somalia? They made a secret agreement wherein Somalia will take 28 Somalian refugees, and they will get SEK 100 million – EUR 10 million – as an exchange. A Hamas-loving, antisemite Prime Minister. How does the discussion go in ECR about your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats?

Madam President, antisemitism, along with other forms of racism and hatred, has become disturbingly normalised. So normalised, in fact, that it's no longer rare to hear such rhetorics within our democratic institutions. Yes, even in our Parliament. This is nothing short of a disgrace. The hateful language of the far right sows division among people and fuels violence. Shockingly, nearly one third of our Parliament is now held by those who carry the torch of hatred, an ideology that once cost the lives of many Jews. Many of these same political movements now use Islamophobia as a means to cleanse their own historical record. The wolf in shepherd's clothing may be hard to spot, but if we listen carefully, we can still recognise its voice. Antisemites and Islamophobes may not always be the same individuals, but they are time and again each other's closest friends. We must stand together and confront antisemitism and hatred in all its forms. Europe knows too well what happens when we remain silent and indifferent. Hatred always finds its way back and it poisons our society.

Madam President, I am at a loss for words to express my outrage at the passivity of the EU, to put an end to the genocide in Gaza, and to bring home the Israeli hostages. Two years have passed. Passivity is complicity. By refusing to suspend the EU‑Israeli Association Agreement and rejecting calls for a weapon embargo, the EU is choosing complicity over conscience. Now regarding the so‑called peace efforts, all peace efforts must be welcomed. But there is no genuine peace effort when those most affected are excluded. The extremist Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far right ministers have made it clear that they will not allow the Palestinian Authority to have a role in Gaza. True peace cannot be achieved by excluding the Palestinians, while Hamas must not be part of the governance in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority must be if the peace efforts are to be genuine and credible. Let us also remember the old saying, peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means. The people of the West Bank understand this deeply. They try to pursue peace through non-violent means, even when an ethnic cleansing is unfolding before our eyes in the West Bank, with the Israeli military and settlers terrorising Palestinians day and night. The EU must take a stand for real peace resolution. That means ceasefire now. That means humanitarian aid into Gaza now. That means the immediate release of all hostages, both Israeli and Palestinian. That means an immediate end to the siege of Gaza. That means an end to the occupation of all Palestinian territories. That means recognition of Palestine. That means full respect for international law.

Madam President, thank you very much. Colleagues. Our open, democratic and free societies are being cyber-attacked time and time again. My country, Sweden, is no exception. In the last month alone, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Skåne have been affected. Over one hundred thousand employees in school, health and social care have had their personal data leaked. It is a direct attack on both people's privacy and our common security. We cannot be passive. We need to build resilience locally, nationally and Europe-wide. When Swedish and European authorities knocked out a pro-Russian cyber network this summer, we showed what cooperation can achieve. But that's not enough. Among other things, we need more resources for the European Cybercrime Centre within Europol. We need to strengthen the EU Agency for Cybersecurity. And above all, we need unified power. I would have liked the far right in this Parliament to take this debate seriously as well, instead of making itself a victim. The sacrificial cardigan is getting old.

Madam President, refusing to acknowledge a genocide doesn't make it less of a genocide. Refusing to call a starvation a starvation doesn't make it less of a starvation. Refusing to name an occupation an occupation doesn't make it less of an occupation. International law is not a matter of left and right – it's a matter of principle, but the reality is undeniable. For over a year in this European Parliament, there has been a right-wing majority that has refused to name atrocities for what they are and has been even less willing to act. You have the possibility now to show that you can spell 'humanity' through joining us in our demands for action, and to call a spade a spade. For how many more Palestinians must die before international law is enforced? How many more children must cease to see the daylight? Tell me how many! Freeze the EU-Israel Association Agreement, adopt an EU-wide weapon embargo, sanction the criminal government of Israel, implement ICC and ICJ decisions, recognise Palestine. Shame on this current silence. Shame on hypocrisy. Shame on the inactions. Shame, shame, shame.

Mr President, minorities keep being in danger in the new Syria. The recent terrorist attacks on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus and the ongoing massacres on Alawites are examples of heinous violence. Among the perpetrators are even commanders of the Minister of Defence of the new government. If we stay silent, this will be the future of all minorities in Syria. I welcome the European Council's decision to sanction those responsible, including Turkish‑backed SNA groups, but the EU must do more. Every single support given to the new government must be done with demands on a Syria that respects all its citizens and respects international law.

Mr President, the European Union must stand firm and unwavering in the face of threats and intimidation. While the United States remains a vital trade partner, as has been said by many other colleagues here, and they are also a key global actor, recent signals from the US under Trump have made it clear: America is no longer what it used to be. Therefore, the EU can't act as it used to act. As Europeans, we must be unequivocal. We will not accept trade agreements founded on blackmail or threats. The far right – both in the US and here in Europe – in our parliaments are eager to undermine our standards, to roll back protection of consumers, workers and our climate, all to serve oligarch interests. The EU must, however, negotiate from a position of strength, transparency and integrity. We owe it to our citizens to defend our values, to defend our model and to defend our future. We must stand united and resolute, because our strength lies in our unity and in our unwavering commitment to our principles.

Madam President, the first Pride was a protest, and indeed, so was Budapest Pride. To the brave people of Hungary: you embody strength, you embody bravery! To all colleagues that joined and showed solidarity with the brave people of Hungary: thank you! I don't expect the ignorant far-right leaders to have joined Pride in Budapest. However, there was one pro-democratic group leader who was missing: Manfred Weber from the EPP. Where were you? Such a shame! But I'm not surprised. Across Europe, far-right movements threaten human rights and still, during these times, the EPP chooses to ally itself with the far right. To be silent on hate speech and to cooperate with those who seek to strip people of their rights is to be complicit in the violation of human rights. This was confirmed when I, together with up to 200 others, defied Orbán, and marched proudly for freedom and human rights in the biggest Budapest Pride ever. And to the far right, I also just want to say that there is no such a thing as gender ideology. It's called anti-discrimination – something that is missing from your vocabulary. Learn!

Madam President, what was it – one, two, three hours ago that Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the EPP, was talking about the victims of communism? The only difference between us is that we never make a difference between 'victims' and 'victims'. It should not be controversial to assert that killing, starving, mutilating and slaughtering children constitutes a clear violation of international law. That is what is happening right now in Gaza, what the far-right government of Israel is doing to the children of Gaza. Make no mistake, history will judge each person that refused to act to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Hate is not the opposite of peace, apathy is. Apathy equals complicity. Those who don't want to be complicit to the genocide on the Palestinian people must demand the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement now.

Mr President, I want to start by saying to the far right here in our Parliament that free and independent media doesn't mean attacking them when it doesn't fit your ideology. Actually, your ideology is an ideology of hatred. We have laws in our Union to ensure you don't import 1930s Germany to 2025. So stop attacking our democracies and go back to the 1930s and stay there, where your ideology belongs. For us who believe in fully fledged democracies, we have a duty to defend free and independent media. We have a duty to strengthen them. It is every Member State's duty to implement the Media Freedom Act – not if, but when, and the time is now.

Mr President, time is running out. The Iranian regime is escalating its executions, leaving no one safe. Since 1 October 2024 over 1 000 individuals – comprising political prisoners, women, protesters and minority groups – have been executed in Iran. Despite his suffering a heart attack last month, the Iranian authorities have persistently refused to transfer Dr Ahmadreza Jalali to a hospital where he could receive the urgent, specialised medical care he needs. This neglect is inhuman and utterly cruel. Dr Jalali has endured over nine years in Evin prison. He was sentenced to death following a sham trial. As a Swedish and Iranian citizen – as a European citizen – his case demands our urgent attention. Sweden and European Union bear a responsibility to ensure his safe return to his wife Vida and their children. Free Ahmadreza Jalali now!

Mr President, it is a shame how the EPP and the far-right are using our democratic House in their witch-hunt against the socialist government, one of the most successful governments as regards civil rights and social rights. The allegations against the sitting government are serious and should be handled as such and, by all indications, that is also what is happening. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acted forcefully as soon as the allegations against the former organisation and secretary of PSOE was brought to the table and expelled him from the party, as well as deprived him from the positions he had, while the PP in Spain has acted shamefully. Colleagues, it is a shame to politicise such a serious situation, especially when the Prime Minister acted as a decent person should act. Furthermore, according to the Rule of Law Index, Spain is above the United States, on the 25th spot in the global ranking. So, what are we actually talking about here? We are spending the Parliament's time on political smear campaigns, not actually concern or debate about the state of the Union. The right and the far-right are only pretending to be concerned about the rule of law, only pretending to be. If the right and the far-right was actually worried about the rule of law, we would be discussing the fact that, according to the same Rule of Law Index, where Spain is ranked number 25, Hungary is on spot 73, in the bottom half of the ranking, below Kazakhstan, and with the same score as Sri Lanka. We might have been discussing as well Greece, which has the same score as Georgia, and Croatia is only narrowly better. The situation in Slovakia is deteriorating rapidly. There is no credibility behind the empty words and dishonest gestures of EPP and the far-right.

Mr President, welcome to 'Orbánistan', where the government has made it their primary goal to dismantle the rule of law, human rights and democracy. Mr Orbán, being elected does not grant you the right to transform Hungary into an Iran within the EU. By attacking LGBTQI rights, women's rights, migrants and civil society, you are not much different from the mullahs in Tehran. The Hungarian people are brave and will ultimately consign you to the dustbin of history. Patience with Orbán has long since run its course. The Commission should, without delay, make full use of its toolbox to force the Hungarian regime to correct its unlawful measures. Meanwhile, for colleagues that believe in equality for all, let us stand with the courageous people of Hungary on 28 June as they celebrate Budapest Pride. The very first Pride was a riot defending themselves from hate and violence. Let's show Orbán that all Pride marches are powerful expressions of resilience and freedom.

Madam President, history will not be kind to those who stand by while innocent civilians in Gaza are being slaughtered and starved by the far-right Israeli Government. If this was a war against Hamas, there would not be so many civilian casualties, so many children. Moreover, we must not overlook the ongoing attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank also, including the expansion of Israeli settlements. If these actions are not a violation of international law, then what is a violation of international law? If it looks like a genocide, smells like a genocide, let me tell you what it is: it is a genocide. Let us put an end to this hypocrisy. It's time to call out Netanyahu's war crimes and to end the slaughter of innocent Palestinians; suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, sanction Netanyahu and all his ministers – not a single one, all; implement the ICC and ICJ decisions, and ensure to adopt a weapon embargo against the far-right government, which slaughters children. Today's debate concerns the very soul of our union. We can no longer claim to be committed to peace, respect for international law and promoting these values globally if we fail to stand up for them universally, everywhere. Free Palestine.

Madam President, the most urgent priority at this moment is to prevent further escalation of wars and conflicts worldwide, before past mistakes become a harsh reality once again. Both the European Union and NATO bear a responsibility to act. We have rightly supported Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we must continue to do so to ensure its victory and bring an end to Russia's ongoing acts of aggression. Putin has repeatedly demonstrated his unwillingness to engage in genuine peace negotiations. The only way to force him is to continue strengthening Ukraine. The recent escalation, specifically between Israel and Iran, is yet another deeply concerning conflict. This conflict is costing innocent civilians their lives. While I hold zero sympathy for the regime in Tehran, Israel's actions are also unacceptable. Respect for international law must be upheld by all parties, as there should be no special legal privilege for war criminals and oppressors like Netanyahu, Khamenei or anyone else.

Mr President, the war between Israel and Iran is unfolding before our eyes, with civilians on both sides bearing the devastating consequences, not Khamenei nor Netanyahu. We must stand firmly against war, against oppression, terrorism and violation of international law. We must oppose the use of weapons of mass destruction, genocide and occupation. No person or entity, be it Netanyahu, Khamenei or Hamas, stand above international law. The actions by Israel in Gaza is claimed to be self‑defence. There is no self‑defence in killing over 60 000 civilians, many more injured and on the brink of starvation. These actions violate international law. Those who fail to see that Israel is breaching Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement are either blind or complicit. It is time to suspend this agreement. The maniac Trump's possible actions right now are dangerous. The EU, however, must play a crucial role in de‑escalating the conflict and preventing the heinous Tehran regime from accessing nuclear weapons. Our collective responsibility is to promote human rights, rule of law, democracy, peace and uphold international law.

Madam President, Putin's tyranny can only be brought to an end through EU unity and decisive actions. The continued import of coal and oil by some Member States directly enables Putin's war efforts, filling his war machine and enabling him to escalate missiles and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, as he has done over the last months. It is good to condemn, but more important to act. We must support Ukraine with all available means to ensure that they not only withstand the war, but win the war. This support must be comprehensive: sanctions, military aid, humanitarian assistance, macroeconomic support – there can't be any limits to our support. However, right now, EU Member States are pumping more money into Putin's war machine than support to Ukraine. How is that going to ensure that Ukraine will be in a position of strength? Because a position of strength is important to ensure that Putin is forced to the negotiating table and to ensure that Ukraine wins, that we win.

Mr President, sometimes I wonder if the Commission thinks we are a Mickey Mouse Parliament. Two years have passed since the Parliament's PEGA Committee issued a forceful recommendation to combat the illegal use of spyware within the EU. Yet two years on, the Commission has utterly failed to take decisive actions. It seems like we have a Mickey Mouse Commission – because it is either that or that the Commission refused to defend the people of Europe and uphold democracy, rule of law and human rights. In fact, some Member States, such as Italy and Hungary, are now in an even worse state than before: Hungary has been caught spying on EU officials and Italy on activists – clear violations of fundamental rights that remain unpunished. The European Media Freedom Act was passed, but it protects only journalists and only narrowly. What about political opponents? What about activists, lawyers, ordinary citizens? It is high time for bold, unwavering actions from the Commission. Accountability must be enforced and Member States must be held to strict standards. It is time to end the Big Brother society some of our Member States have turned into.

Madam President, genocide, ethnic cleansing, annexation and war crimes are the actions currently inflicted upon the Palestinian people by the Israeli far-right Government. The goal of Netanyahu's criminal regime is clear: to completely destroy Gaza so that the Palestinian population is forced to leave. These are actually the words even coming from Minister Smotrich. I find no better summary than what Yair Golan, the leader of my sister party, Israel's Democrats Party, recently said: 'a sane country doesn't engage in fighting civilians, doesn't kill babies as a hobby, and doesn't set as its goal the expulsion of an entire population.' Colleagues, silence in the face of such crimes is complicity. The EU is already on the wrong side of history. The question is, are we going to continue down this dangerous path? Yesterday's decision in the Council was a disgrace. Are you serious about evaluating the Association Agreement with Israel? The time for evaluation is long overdue. What we need to do is immediately suspend the trade agreement, allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza ASAP, impose sanctions on the entire Netanyahu Government – not single ministers – and implement an EU-wide weapons embargo. Right now, 14 000 children are at risk of starving to death within the next 24 hours. The atrocities against Palestinians are among the worst since the Second World War. The EU must act swiftly and decisively. Free Palestine.

I think it's very clear that, as I said, Nazism is pure evil. The ideology that put Europe into the atrocities of the Second World War, of course, is pure evil. And we need to ensure that those who put us in that position can never, ever put us in the same path. One important action is, therefore, to draw the lessons of history, and ensure that whatever Germany can do to pay back for the atrocities that took place back then also is being done.

Mr President, colleagues, today, 8 May, is the time to commemorate. This is a time to remember, but also a moment to reflect on the lessons – the evil the Second World War emerged from. And it is a time to warn against the far-right ideologies that once drove our continent to the edge of complete self-destruction. The same ideology that, unfortunately, is embraced by some – even here in this Parliament, in Europe in 2025. The generations that survived the Second World War, those who knew the very essence of 'never again', understood that the tragedy of the 20th century did not begin with bombs or bullets. It began with words, with rising intolerance, and it continued to mass killing of men, women and children by the thousands, by the millions. In our European society today, we are once again witnessing this rise of political forces that set people against people. Colleagues, do not forget that EU was built to ensure that 'never again' means 'never again'. Let's ensure that 'never again' is transferred into words every day, with every action that we take.

Mr President, 'journalism is not a crime, not in any country'. These are the words of the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin from the notorious high-security prison, Silivri, in Türkiye. Joakim must be allowed to return home to his freedom, to his Sofie and their awaiting child immediately. Since 28 March, he has been detained in Türkiye. The allegations of insulting President Erdoğan and membership in a terrorist organisation are baseless and lack evidence. So far, the Swedish government has not succeeded in influencing the situation through diplomatic efforts. The Foreign Minister took time to contact her Turkish counterpart and, as far as we know, the Prime Minister has not lifted the phone to reach out to his. In this very delicate situation, it is crucial that the Commission and the whole EU stands behind Joakim and demands that he be allowed to return home immediately. He is a Swedish citizen and, therefore, also a European citizen. It is our duty to defend all our journalists and all our citizens. Joakim's case is also a matter of every journalist's rights to operate freely, beyond oppression and beyond fear.

Mr President, in the face of the devastating Israeli warfare and a suffocating humanitarian blockade, the people of Gaza, especially its children, are being killed in tens of thousands and denied their most basic rights, including humanitarian aid, healthcare and education. At such a moment, our support for UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority must not waver. Following the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks, the Commission reviewed all financial assistance to Palestine, including UNRWA, and confirmed its compliance with the legal guarantees under the pillar assessment and the contribution agreement. I wish the same was also done for Israel, who right now commits atrocities we could never imagine in 2025. To withhold funding or to echo false narratives promoted by the Netanyahu regime would punish innocent people of Palestine and will only serve as supportive actions for Hamas. The EU must stand with those building a better future in Palestine, not with those defending the Netanyahu regime, which is accused of mass killings, genocide and use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, EU's budget for a changing world requires EU's courage for a better world. International institutions and civil society organisations are essential for a better world – the ideas that have influenced us since after the Second World War. But we see how forces influenced by the ideology of the Second World War have grown and are now, in budget after budget, trying to cut support to civil society organisations and attacks important international organisations as UNRWA. There must not be any under-funding of EU external action, particularly in crisis-affected regions like the Middle East. It would be shameful and a failure towards the people of Gaza that right now already suffers because of the Israeli far-right government. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza calls for immediate and long-term engagement. Once a political agreement for reconstruction is in place, we must be ready with a robust, predictable financial instrument dedicated to Gazans and the whole Palestinian people.

Mr President, to US President Trump: you are a loser. Because there are no winners in this trade war; it drives up prices, destroys jobs, stifles growth and hits the most vulnerable the hardest. It affects everyday people the hardest; Trump's heavy tariffs are disturbing supply chains and, in a few weeks, shelves in the US could be empty. And it polarises a world that already is facing many challenges with, among other things, Russia's unlawful attack on Ukraine. Trade barriers should be dismantled, not built. As the United States retreats from the global stage, turning its back on the very order it helped build after the Second World War, Europe must step up. We need an open world beyond Trump's ideology and the ideology of his extreme right-wing puppets in the EU. We need politics for the many, we need politics for the people. We must strengthen our relationship with other like-minded countries: Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, Mexico and many, many others. Through unity, we will ensure that today's craziness will also soon pass, and openness, cooperation and freedom will prevail.