NCRI – New York, United Nations – coming from across the United States Thousands of Iranian-Americans strongly criticized the upcoming visit to the United Nations by the Iranian regime’s president Hassan Rouhani in a large and energetic rally in New York on Tuesday.
In a demonstration, organized by the Organization of Iranian American Communities in the U.S., the participants also urged the UN Security Council to scrutinize the shocking massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran in 1988, seen as one of the biggest human carnages since World War II. They called for the prosecution of regime officials directly involved in the crime against humanity.
Rouhani’s justice minister, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, recently declared that he is “proud” to have been involved in the ruthless killings.
In video message to participants , the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi said, “As long as the United States allows the leaders of a regime that Washington itself describes as the leading state sponsor of terrorism to set foot on American soil, and so long as the United Nations hosts them at the General Assembly instead of arranging for the ruling mullahs to face international tribunals for crimes against humanity, it means that they are standing against the Iranian people’s desire for freedom and democracy.”
She added that without the eviction of the Iranian regime “from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, there is no conceivable end in sight for the crises in the region. Appeasing this regime and standing on its side is a policy that has harmed the entire world.”
The rally stood out for its vibrant display of inspirational musical performances and the reenactment of the ’88 mass executions. It also featured a disturbing display of the pictures of the massacre’s victims.
Rouhani’s three-year record is seen as a troubling continuation of the regime’s tyrannical policies, marked by a astounding 2,500 executions, the arrest of thousands of disaffected Iranians, execution of political prisoners, and a massive crackdown on women and youth. Iran is now the leading executioner of prisoners in the world on a per capita basis.
Citing Rouhani’s dismal policies, the participants at the New York rally denounced what they described as the international community’s silence about the human rights atrocities committed by the ruling regime, saying western political and economic relations with Tehran should be predicated on a halt in executions by the theocratic regime.
Speakers at the rally included former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the British Barrister and President of the UN Court for War Crimes in Sierra Leone Sir Geoffrey Robertson, QC, who compiled a report on the 1988 massacre and Pastor Saeed Abedini, until recently imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith.
Robertson told the crowd, “By mid-August 1988 thousands of prisoners had been killed in this manner by the state, without trial, without appeal, and utterly without mercy. What happened in 1988 was a crime against humanity and worst mass execution of political prisoners since WWII Crimes against humanity are of a special hideousness. This dreadful act has never been punished, has never even been investigated… They cannot be forgotten and they cannot be forgiven. There is a duty on the world community represented by the United Nations to take action.” Rouhani and all perpetrators of Iran 1988massacre must be placed on trial Robertson asserted.
Lieberman said “We say to the United Nations don’t’ be fooled by Rouhani’s smile. The Iran nuclear agreement has not changed the behavior, civilized or moderated the behavior of the regime in Iran. The only way to change the regime in Iran is for the people in Iran to rise up and oust the regime that suppresses them and threatens most of the rest of the world, they have courage and they will prevail, unlike 2009 US will stand with Iranian people till freedom.” Lieberman said.
Pastor Abedini in his speech said: God stands with the victims, God sees everything &never forgets these pains, heartache of our people & tears.
Thousands are still in prison today waiting for execution just like when I was in prison myself 30 thousand political prisoners were executed in just two months but these executions continue today too.
Filabi Iran’s National Champion said: “UN must break the silence on 1988 massacre as a crime against humanity and all perpetrators of this genocide must be placed on trial.”
