BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
The Iranian regime’s president Ebrahim Raisi, known as the Henchman, has announced his plans for coming to the United States to speak at the UN General Assembly. If he is allowed to touch that podium, that would be a shame for the international community.
In August 2022, the opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) initiated a federal complaint against Raisi for crimes against humanity and genocide in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several individuals who were subjected to torture or had their loved ones executed during the 1988 massacre in Iran.
In that summer, a fatwa issued by then-supreme leader Khomeini resulted in the execution of 30,000 political prisoners, more than 90% of whom were affiliated with the main Iranian opposition movement, the MEK.
More significantly, the Iranian Americans supporting the NCRI and the MEK have launched a multi-pronged campaign since last month against Raisi and will be holding a massive demonstration at 9 am on September 21st, in front of the United Nations to coincide with Raisi’s scheduled speech.
Raisi was a member of the Tehran Death Commission established to carry out the fatwa and was personally responsible for thousands of executions.
With such a horrific record, Washington already feels the pressure from many directions to deny Raisi an entry visa to attend the UN General Assembly. There is growing bipartisan opposition from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and from very senior prominent American officials.
More significantly, the Iranian Americans supporting the NCRI and the MEK have launched a multi-pronged campaign since last month against Raisi and will be holding a massive demonstration at 9 am on September 21st, in front of the United Nations to coincide with Raisi’s scheduled speech.
On that day, thousands of Iranian Americans will be calling for the prosecution of the mass murderer, Ebrahim Raisi for crimes against humanity, genocide, and terrorism.
