Iran is still rejoicing in the death of a notorious executioner who is responsible for the death of thousands of political prisoners, protesters, and other Iranians who want to live in freedom and decency. The satisfaction and joy from the death of regime president Ebrahim Raisi extended beyond the streets and cities of Iran, affecting many countries and influential political figures. Some personalities, through messages or media interviews, expressed their satisfaction at the elimination of a symbol of crime, massacre, and genocide, and congratulated the people of Iran.
This is a rare occasion where, after the death of a country’s president, the formal rules, and protocols of sending condolence messages to the rulers are challenged, with many personalities, parliamentarians, and political officials sending congratulatory messages instead.
Hervé Saulignac, a member of the French National Assembly and vice-president of the parliamentary committee for a democratic Iran, emphasized: “This man (Raisi) would have deserved justice for his people whom he martyred for years and massacred in 1988. My only thought goes to the Iranians rid of their executioner.”
Cet homme aurait mérité la justice de son peuple qu’il a martyrisé des années durant et massacré en 1988. Ma seule pensée va aux iranien(nes) débarrassés de leur bourreau. pic.twitter.com/8jtOctsezc
— Herve Saulignac (@hsaulignac) May 20, 2024
Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium and a member of the European Parliament, wrote on his X account: “Ebrahim Raisi was a mass murderer and one of the chief organizers of the regime’s increasing inhumanity and impunity…”
Ebrahim Raisi was a mass murderer and one of the chief organisers of the regime’s increasing inhumanity and impunity… pic.twitter.com/GPpRPA4jGM
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) May 20, 2024
Ted Cruz, a member of the U.S. Senate, said: “Ebrahim Raisi was a monster. He executed countless innocent Iranians for so-called moral crimes. It is disgraceful that the Biden Administration mourned his death.”
Ebrahim Raisi was a monster.
He executed countless innocent Iranians for so-called moral crimes.
It is disgraceful that the Biden Administration mourned his death.https://t.co/lMufB1OJxZ pic.twitter.com/0puNhafMfV
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 23, 2024
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said: “The regime in Tehran has lost one of its bloodiest hard-liners. Since before his sham presidential election, President Raisi subjugated the Iranian people to years of repression and left behind a reign of terror. From his support of international terrorism, mass murders of the Iranian people, and other human right abuses, the world won’t soon forget Raisi’s atrocities.”
Tom Tugendhat, the UK Minister of State for Security, referring to the reason for his opposition to sending any condolence message for Raisi’s death, said: “President Raisi’s regime has murdered thousands at home, and targeted people here in Britain and across Europe. I will not mourn him.”
President Raisi’s regime has murdered thousands at home, and targeted people here in Britain and across Europe.
I will not mourn him. https://t.co/pbg4EBWkio
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) May 20, 2024
Sending condolence messages from various organizations and countries is met with serious opposition from public opinion, journalists, and members of the U.S. Congress and Senate.
Members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from various countries, through messages with the hashtag “Not in My Name,” expressed their objections to the messages from European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Council president Charles Michel regarding Raisi’s death, calling Raisi the executioner of Tehran and a perpetrator of the killing and massacre of the people of Iran and the region. David Lega, a member of the European Parliament from Sweden, wrote to Borrell: “Can you look the brave women and freedom fighters of Iran in the eye ever again?”
Joana Cotar, a member of the German Federal Parliament, posted on X: “The European Union first participates in the search for Raisi’s body and now it’s also offering condolences. A terrorist mass murderer has died, the oppressed in his country are celebrating, and the EU is shedding tears. It’s just incomprehensible. THIS EU must go. We need a completely new kind of cooperation. Shame on you!”
Zuerst beteiligt sich die #EU bei der Suche nach #Raisi und jetzt kondoliert sie auch noch. Ein terroristischer Massenmörder ist gestorben, in seinem Land feiern die Unterdrückten und die EU vergießt Tränen.
Man fasst das alles nicht mehr.
DIESE EU muss weg. Es braucht eine… https://t.co/cRGHeyAO1I— Joana Cotar (@JoanaCotar) May 20, 2024
Robert Jenrick, a member of the UK Parliament, in objection to the condolence message from the President of the European Council regarding Raisi’s death, wrote: “The death of the butcher of Tehran will not be mourned by oppressed Iranians, nor their Western allies. The EU’s weakness on Iran is again clear for all to see.”
The death of the butcher of Tehran will not be mourned by oppressed Iranians, nor their Western allies.
The EU’s weakness on Iran is again clear for all to see.
And to think Labour would rush into a foreign policy pact with the Commission. https://t.co/WcFaqAQeWh
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) May 20, 2024