During a conference held in the Netherlands on Saturday, December 9, 2023, dozens of political figures, representatives of the Dutch Parliament, and members of the European Parliament participated and delivered speeches regarding the human rights conditions in Iran.
Ms. Dorien Rookmaker, MEP from the Netherlands, expressed deep concern over the invitation of Iranian regime president Ebrahim Raisi by the UNHCR in Geneva, calling for a condemnation by the international community. She also condemned the ongoing impunity for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. She applauded the Iranian Resistance’s determination to seek justice and hold the Iranian regime accountable.
MEP Rookmaker said, “In the coming month, the Iranian judicial authorities plan to hold a sham court in Tehran to try members of the resistance in absentia. We must question why such ridiculous scenes are permitted by this regime. The answer lies primarily in the inaction of the West. And we have to look into this, and we have to take action. The Mullahs interpreted this lack of firm action as a signal that the West would continue to appease them. It is crucial that we as members of the European Parliament or members of our national parliaments express the true sentiments of the European people and their values.”
Dutch Senator Professor Case Delanghe stressed the urgency of addressing the regime’s threat not only to its citizens but also to regional stability. He emphasized the link between Tehran’s support for terrorist organizations and the heightened tensions in the Middle East. Prof. De Lange echoed the NCRI’s warning that the head of the snake lies in Tehran, indicating that the Iranian regime is the primary cause of the current conflicts in the region.
Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and former head of UNAMI Ad Melkert
said, “Human rights organizations have called for the prosecution of Raisi for his involvement in crimes against humanity as a member of the Tehran Death Commission during the 1988 mass extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of political prisoners. International bodies, including the UN Special Procedures, have condemned all these events, and he should be held accountable for the killing of the protesters in November 2019 while he was head of the judiciary, and for the killing of 750 individuals and the arrest of 30,000 during the 2022 uprising under his presidency.”
Former Dutch Senator Bob van Pareren expressed his support for the Iranian people’s quest for freedom and democracy. He condemned the oppressive rule of Iran’s current regime, highlighting daily atrocities and advocating for international action against the prominence of its leaders.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the Iranian diaspora, van Pareren praised their perseverance and courage in advocating for change.
In his address to the conference, Professor Henk de Haan, former Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Dutch Parliament, delivered a scathing critique of the Iranian regime’s oppressive tactics and called for international action to address the ongoing human rights violations.
The former committee chairman condemned the Iranian regime, labeling it a “criminal regime” and emphasizing the need for collective action against it. He lamented the staggering number of executions in Iran, stating that the situation had not improved over the years but had worsened.
He also urged the Dutch government to intensify efforts to include the Iranian regime on the list of terrorist organizations.
The President-elect National Council of Resistance of Iran, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, said, “Under Raisi and the clerical regime, millions of Iranians have sought asylum in other countries due to the rampant executions, torture, and imprisonment in Iran. His track record spans over four decades of perpetuating crimes against humanity. There are discussions of his attendance at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. His participation would tarnish the reputation of the United Nations, undermine human rights, and mock the sacred right to asylum. It would encourage further executions, torture, aggression, warmongering, and terrorism. Rather than participating in this forum, Raisi must be held accountable for the atrocities of the past 44 years. Justice demands that he face accountability for the deaths, carnage, and aggression under his watch.”