BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, April 4, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
Seventy-five current and former UN human rights experts have issued a strong appeal to the UN Human Rights Council. They urge the Council to renew the mandates of two crucial bodies investigating human rights abuses in Iran:
- First, The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran
- Second, The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran
In an open letter, these experts highlight a key issue: the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in Iran. They point out that this impunity is a persistent problem, and the 1988 massacre of political prisoners is a chilling example.
Their call for action coincides with the recent report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. This report details current human rights concerns, with a specific focus on the events surrounding the 1988 massacre, which has been widely condemned as a crime against humanity.
Over 30,000 were executed during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, whose main target and the majority of its victims were the MEK.
Meanwhile, decades of the West’s appeasement policy have bolstered Tehran’s suppressive, warmongering, and terrorist practices. This must be reversed now. The regime’s leaders, including its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and its president, Ebrahim Raisi, must be held accountable for their crimes against humanity.