Reported by PMOI/MEK
Geneva, March 7, 2019 – Horrific human rights violations in 2018 all across Iran was the topic of an international conference in Geneva held at the United Nations European Headquarters on Thursday.
A slate of prominent dignitaries and experts attended the “Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018,” providing their input on the mullahs’ atrocities against the Iranian people. The summer 1988 massacre gained special attention as speakers called for justice and accountability against those officials – some currently in power – for the massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, mainly members and supporters of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Rémy Pagani, former mayor of Geneva, was one of the speakers at this event.
“For 40 years, ever since the founding of the mullahs’ regime, the end of mullahs is drawing closer. Demonstrations in Iran are ongoing and there exists an alternative with real program for a democratic change,” Pagani said in reference to the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), presided by Maryam Rajavi, and the ten-point plan she has placed forward for the future of Iran.
“A recent of Amnesty International report is worrying. The crackdown campaign launched by the regime in past few months speaks of over 7,000 arrests, including human rights advocates,” Pagani added, referring to the mass arrests of Iranian protesters who took part in nationwide uprisings in late 2017.
Geneva Mayor Rémy Pagani at the “Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018” – March 7, 2019
“After 40 years of clerical dictatorship, 80 million Iranians have had enough. Men and women, students, truck drivers and … have taken to streets in protest against the fascist mullahs’ regime,” said Struan Stevenson, a former member of the European Parliament with extensive knowledge about the regime ruling Iran, its atrocities inside the country and abroad.
“Iran’s middle class has virtually disappeared. Soaring food prices and unpaid wages. The IRGC cracks down on demonstrators, arresting over 7,000 murdering and torturing some of them. Iran is one of the most repressive states in the Middle East; gouging out eyes and hanging people in public. This regime has executed over 4,000 people since the so-called moderate Hassan Rouhani took the helm as president. This regime has massacred 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members of the main opposition PMOI/MEK,” he added before extending his remarks over Tehran’s malign measures abroad.
“In December last year, Albania expelled Iran’s Ambassador to that country for threatening public security. France, Germany and UK appeared to have greater hunger for blood-soaked dollars,” Stevenson said, criticizing Europe’s appeasement approach vis-à-vis Tehran.
“The mullahs must be held accountable for their crimes in Iran. Please hear the cries of the oppressed millions of Iranians.”
Former MEP Struan Stevenson at the “Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018” – March 7, 2019
“Mrs. [Asma] Jahangir did an excellent work recognizing crimes against humanity had taken place in Iran in 1988. The new UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran just recently published his report totally ignoring the massacre of 1988. I regret that the Special Rapporteur took this out of his report,” said Mr. Tahar Boumedra, former head of the human rights office at the UN special mission to Iraq, UNAMI. Boumedra is currently the head of Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI), a non-profit organization that is documenting the atrocities of the Iranian regime in executing political prisoners.
“The new rapporteur should take up the work where Mrs. Jahangir left off. The crime was confirmed by a major Amnesty International study. We hope the new rapporteur will continue to work on this issue and his next report will include this crime against humanity perpetrated by the mullahs’ regime in 1988. If the UN fails to take action on the massacres that took place in Iran, the regime will be encouraged to continue its behavior as we witnessed last June in Paris,” he added, referring to a foiled bomb plot pursued by Tehran through its now arrested Vienna-based diplomat to target the Iranian opposition’s massive annual rally outside of Paris.
“I ask to renew the call for thousands of families of victims to change and correct the fundamental mistake in the Rapporteur's report as was recognized by his predecessor. We cannot expect Iran to have any independent investigations. That we know is impossible. We hope the new Rapporteur will join us as the families and former political prisoners are waiting, and expecting a gesture. They want to be heard.”
Mr. Tahar Boumedra, former head of the human rights office at the UN special mission to Iraq, UNAMI – March 7, 2019
“We must maintain the pressure [on the mullahs].This is one of the major crimes during the second half of the last century. The families are carrying this trauma,” said Alfred de Zayas, former UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic & Equitable International Order, referring to the summer 1988 massacre.
“The mullahs should not enjoy impunity. There are many ways of bringing this to the public. We are concerned about those who have suffered the repression in Iran. The recent UN Special Rapporteur report is a disappointment, but it doesn’t mean that we are going to give up.”
Alfred de Zayas, former UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic & Equitable International Order – March 7, 2019
“This is the 30th year that I am attending this session after the assassination of Dr. Kazem Rajavi by the mullahs’ regime,” said Parviz Khazai, NCRI Representative in Nordic countries, referring to the brother of Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi who was assassinated by the mullahs’ terrorists in Geneva back in 1989.
“The regime is at war with its own people but also at war against Lebanese and all nations of the region. It supports dictators. Spending Iranian assets in wars against the people of the region and elsewhere. A member of the Lebanese Hezbollah was accepted as citizen of Venezuela and provided a status where he could bring in thousands of members of Hezbollah into that country,” he added, shedding light on Tehran’s belligerence across the Middle East and beyond.
“[Syrian dictator Bashar] Assad was recently in Tehran asking for ammunitions, more money and more men in Syria while the regime already has 90,000 men there… Mrs. Maryam Rajavi says if anyone should be blamed for the situation, it is the mullahs and those who have supported and appeased this regime.”
Parviz Khazai, NCRI Representative in Nordic countries – March 9, 2019
sanabarghzahedi
“Ebrahim Raisi was a key member of death committee in 1988. He was responsible for the 1988 massacre, described by Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri [the sacked successor to regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini] as the greatest crime by the Islamic republic,” said Sanabargh Zahedi, Chairman of the NCRI Judiciary Commission. Raisi has recently been appointed by the mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as head of the regime’s so-called judiciary.
“The Amnesty International report issued in December identified five individuals, including Raisi, as human rights violators. He should be considered a serious criminal, not head of the judiciary. During the 2009 uprising Raisi was a key player in the state crackdown, helping pressure those arrested during the nationwide protests. Raisi has said, weapon don’t have to be a warm weapons, it can be a stick of wood. The opposition can be considered moharebs, or one who wages war against God,” he added.
“With his track record, Raisi now will preside over 16 million cases annually. While the crimes still continue, heads of judiciaries in this regime have been among the main criminals. However, with the appointment of Raisi, Khamenei has made his position clear against people and the PMOI/MEK.”
Sanabargh Zahedi, Chairman of the NCRI Judiciary Commission – March 7, 2019
“The appointment of Ebrahim Raisi by the regime to the highest post in the judiciary should be condemned,” said Mrs. Simin Nouri, providing a very dark image of the realities in Iran under the mullahs’ regime.
“We know the barbarian acts of the mullahs have nothing to do with the Islamic faith. 87 women have been executed since the so-called moderate Rouhani took office. 30 million women are left with no social aid and some having to resort to prostitution,” she added, prior to her remarks on the important role of women in the ongoing protests and nationwide uprising.
“There are many misogynist laws in the Iran. Nevertheless, I have to insist on the important role of women in the recent uprising against mullahs’ regime. Iranians have stood up to the repression through all means available to them. The uprising that began 14 months ago continues to shake the mullahs’ regime. Regime authorities have confessed that the main triggers to protests have been the women rejecting all powers in the regime and its corruption and expansionism. All women in the Middle East are victims of the regime and its misogynist practices,” Nouri continued.
“Demonstrators are facing harassments, arbitrary detentions, tortures and … Amnesty International dubbed 2018 as the ‘year of shame’ for the mullahs’ regime. It is time to morally and physically support protesters in Iran.”
Mrs. Simin Nouri – Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018 – March 7, 2019
“Children are victims of state violence in Iran. They are faced with judicial violence such as public executions,” said Sahar Sanaie, describing another aspect of the mullahs’ atrocities against the Iranian public.
“Public execution shock adults and they leave serious traces on children and traumatize them. Children experience daily humiliation of their mothers and other women of the family. Mother’s go through daily checking of their clothing by regime agents. Even school systems teach girls that they are inferior. Iran has the highest number of suicide among women and girls in the Middle East,” she added.
“Poverty should also be considered a form of violence. The suffering of poverty are unbearable for the little ones. The children of Iran deserve better. As long as this religious dictatorship remains in power, there is no possibility of healthy growth of children in Iran.”
Sahar Sanaie – Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018 – March 7, 2019
“I am here to say that 15 members of my family were executed by the regime. Many under torture. My brother mostafa was only 16,” said Sima Mirzaie, directly suffering from the horrors of the mullahs’ regime and especially the 1988 massacre.
“My sister was 18 when arrested. She was sentenced to five years behind bars. However, despite serving her time, she was kept in prison for another years and executed during the 1988 massacre. It has been 40 years families like mine have had no rest. We ask the UN to bring the perpetrators before trial. It is our legal right to know what transpired with our loved ones.”
Sahar Sanaie – Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018 – March 7, 2019
“I was arrested in June 1980 in Tehran. During my imprisonment, I was transferred to ‘residential units’ and placed under atrocious physical and psychological torture,” said Parvaneh Madanchi, a survivor of the 1988 massacre.
“My cellmates were executed through the course of 1988. We have not heard much about this type of prison (the residential units). They were residences of Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commanders. Prisoners were separated and blindfolded, forced to lay down day and nights. There were many physical and psychological tortures during those periods. We were not safe from the IRGC members, even during sleeping hours,” she added.
“These prisons were designed to inflict more pressures and humiliate us women. Interrogators told us that this is a place that no one knows you are here. We had no visits for months. I ask the UN Special Rapporteur to investigate these crimes, especially the 1988 massacre.”
Parvaneh Madanchi – Conference in Geneva: Human Rights Record in Iran in 2018 – March 7, 2019
Human rights conference at the UN’s European Headquarters in Geneva shedding light on gross human rights violations in Iran and calling for accountability of the mullahs’ regime – March 7, 2019
