In a riveting sequence of events, Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Iranian regime, has been forced to cancel his scheduled trip to Geneva, succumbing to intense international criticism and escalating pressure on the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The condemnation, amplified by a collective appeal signed by 328 former world leaders, judges, Nobel laureates, UN officials, human rights and legal experts as well as NGOs, gained additional traction with a legal complaint lodged with the Swiss Federal Public Prosecutor.
Notably, seven former world leaders have aligned their voices with the global outcry, urging the UN to retract Raisi’s invitation to Geneva. Swiss Members of Parliament Balthasar Glättli and Nicolas Walder have also reinforced this call, underscoring the imperative to hold Raisi accountable for Iran’s notorious 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
On Monday, December 10, a legal petition was formally filed, urging Swiss authorities to arrest Ebrahim Raisi upon his anticipated visit and charge him with crimes against humanity related to a 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
This petition, scrutinized by Keystone-SDA on Monday, advocates for a comprehensive investigation into Raisi for alleged genocide and crimes against humanity. Specific accusations include direct involvement in torture and extrajudicial executions during the 1988 massacre that claimed the lives of over 30,000 political prisoners, mainly members and supporters of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MEK/PMOI).
For the international community, Raisi presents a historic test. Will they engage and deal with this criminal regime or will they stand with the Iranian people? The Iranian people have clearly rejected Raisi, describing him as the "1988 henchman." #ProsecuteRaisiNow pic.twitter.com/qcy0X5RuK2
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 2, 2021
Addressed to Swiss Federal Public Prosecutor Andreas Muller, the petition explicitly calls for the arrest and prosecution of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Former political prisoners, staunch supporters of the Iranian Resistance now residing in Switzerland, personally attest to Raisi’s involvement in a commission responsible for the tragic fate of thousands of jailed opponents during the 1988 crackdown.
The cancellation of President Raisi’s trip to Tehran, evidently in response to the looming threat of legal action, underscores once again the Iranian Resistance’s ability to incite bold action and courage in confronting the terrorist regime in Iran.
This development echoes the October 2021 incident when the clerical regime called off Raisi’s visit to Glasgow, Scotland, originally intended for participation in the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). The cancellation followed a petition signed by former Scottish MP Struan Stevenson and numerous human rights activists.
In a parallel initiative, a formal petition was submitted to Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, the head of Police Scotland, urging the initiation of a criminal investigation into President Raisi. This appeal is grounded in the principle of universal jurisdiction, centering on allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity. Simultaneously, a corresponding effort has been set in motion with the Metropolitan Police.
Against this tumultuous backdrop, Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Switzerland have organized a grand rally in Geneva on Wednesday, December 12. The primary objective is to implore the international community to expel the clerical dictatorship from the UN.
Despite facing 70 UN condemnations since 1981, the regime persists in maintaining the worst record of human rights abuses domestically. Furthermore, it continues to engage in global terrorism and regional warfare to fortify its grip on power. The rally aspires to bring these egregious issues to the forefront and demand decisive action on the international stage.
