As reported by the Bundestag, Max Lucks (Alliance 90/The Greens), member of the German delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and PACE rapporteur on the situation of the rule of law, democracy and human rights in Iran, commented on the current situation in an interview. The Assembly met for its second session week in Strasbourg from 20 to 24 April 2026. Lucks stated that he would not stop standing by the people in Iran. With his report, he wants to contribute to a democratic Iran and to security for Iranian exiles in Europe. Iranians are currently being crushed between the terror of their regime and a war that violates international law. "The only perspective for the future are the people in Iran. We must give them the best possible support because they, not arbitrary wars, are the key to freedom," said Lucks.
In the interview, Lucks also addressed the criticism of Germany by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty. O'Flaherty had presented his 2025 annual report during the session week and spoke about growing pressure on freedom of expression and assembly in Germany. The space for civil society and human rights defenders is shrinking. He also expressed concern about restrictions on peaceful demonstrations, particularly regarding Palestine and Gaza, and about reports of "disproportionate" police violence. Lucks partially shared this assessment: It is right to act decisively against anti-Semitism, but disproportionate police practices in Berlin must be critically reviewed. At the same time, Lucks criticized that O'Flaherty rejects the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, even though PACE recommends it almost unanimously. Moreover, the Commissioner neglects the social dimension of human rights, such as child poverty.
Lucks emphasized that membership in the Council of Europe is the gold standard of human rights. However, Germany has human rights deficiencies in extreme child poverty, discrimination against people with disabilities, and underfunding of women's shelters, thereby violating the Istanbul Convention. O'Flaherty's criticism is not harmful; rather, the federal government's reaction, which rejects any criticism, endangers Germany's credibility.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Lucks explained that in an urgent debate of the Assembly, representatives of the Knesset and the Palestinian National Council entered into a constructive dialogue with each other. The Council of Europe must denounce human rights violations but also actively contribute to coexistence, reconciliation, and a two-state solution. The destructive forces from Islamist terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as from Netanyahu's far-right government, have made endless wars their political survival models. The Council of Europe must counter this constructively.
Source: Deutscher Bundestag
