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Iranians across the world commemorate 30th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners

Report by PMOI/MEK

 

August 25, 2018 – Iranians in 30 cities across the world have joined for an online conference to commemorate the memory of more than 30,000 political prisoners executed by the Iranian regime in the summer of 1988. The event, which has become known as the “1988 massacre,” was triggered by a fatwa by then–supreme leader of the Iranian regime Ruhollah Khomeini, which ordered regime officials to purge all prisons of political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI/MEK.

The gathering to commemorate the martyrs of 1988 massacre in Iran

The gathering to commemorate the martyrs of 1988 massacre in Iran

Today, Iranians inside their country and abroad still remember and celebrate the memory of the victims of the 1988 massacre, which made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and democracy in their country.

Maryam Rajavi and the picture of Masoud Rajavi the leader of the Iranian Resistance

Maryam Rajavi and the picture of Masoud Rajavi the leader of the Iranian Resistance

 

Saturday’s conference, which includes Berlin, Vienna, Toronto, Paris, Rome, London, Amsterdam and Stockholm as its venues, will include speeches by prominent figures of the Iranian resistance and dignitaries from different countries, and will call on the international community to take action to bring the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre to justice. Regime officials who were directly involved in the sentencing and execution of the political prisoners continue to occupy high positions of power in Iran with impunity.

Maryam Rajavi shows the book of the martyrs of the 1988 massacre of pol. prisoners in Iran

Maryam Rajavi shows the book of the martyrs of the 1988 massacre of pol. prisoners in Iran

 

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the keynote speaker of the event, saluted the memory of the victims of the 1988 massacre and stipulated that the ongoing protests in Iran are the continuation of the resistance and sacrifice of the thousands of freedom fighters who laid down their lives to bring democracy and freedom to their country.

Key highlights from the keynote speech of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi

In her speech, Mrs. Rajavi hailed all Iranians who have joined today’s conference to pay tribute to the victims of the 1988 massacre.

 

Mrs. Rajavi also called on Iranians around the world to be the voice of the victims of the 1988 massacre and to expand the movement seeking justice for this crime against humanity. Since 2016, a widespread justice movement inside Iran and abroad has been documenting the 1988 massacre and is leading an effort to raise awareness on this three-decade-old crime that has yet to be addressed by the international community.

 

Mrs. Rajavi revealed parts of the details of the widespread efforts of the MEK networks inside Iran to gather information about the 1988 massacre. “Our sisters and brothers were executed in 110 cities [across Iran] in a matter of a few months in 1988,” Mrs. Rajavi said.

 

“Now, those fameless towns have turned into hubs of uprisings, and those subdued cities have turned into hotbeds of revolt,” Mrs. Rajavi said in her speech. Since last December, demonstrations have erupted in cities across Iran, and despite the heavy presence of security forces, protesters of different walks of life and social classes across Iran continue to take to the street and demand regime change as the only solution to the endemic problems of the country.

 

Mrs. Rajavi stressed that in the past 30 years, the mullahs ruling Iran have not been able to conceal their crime, neither have they been able to force the people to forget the people to forget the thousands of people who sacrificed their lives for their compatriots. Neither could their international appeasers undermine this incident in favor of the Iranian regime,” she added, a reference to the politicians and governments in the West who have been turning a blind eye on the crimes of the mullahs for the sake of their political and economic benefits.

 

Mrs. Rajavi called on the international community to end its 30-year-long silence regarding the 1988 massacre and take measures to bring the perpetrators to justice.

 

Patrick Kennedy: This could happen anywhere else if we don’t defend human rights

Patrick Kennedy spoke at the event, from Paris, paying homage to the victims of the 1988 massacre. “This can happen anywhere else if we don’t defend human rights,” Kennedy said.

 

Kennedy also emphasized that the victims of the 1988 massacre made a sacrifice that affects everyone across the world who cherishes freedom. He also drew a connection between the bravery of the political prisoners who went to the gallows in the 1980s and the brave Iranians who have taken to the streets in recent months to protest against the regime across Iran.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

 

Mayor Legaret: The fight goes on

Paris, France—Jean Francois Legaret, mayor of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, delivered a speech at the conference in memory of the 30th anniversary of the 1988 massacre.

Mayor Legaret; The fight goes on

Mayor Legaret; The fight goes on

 

“30 years ago, 30 thousand people were mass executed, but today, their struggle continues,” Legaret said. “The mullahs continue their brutality every day, and they continue to deny the 1988 massacre and pressurize the families of the victims. We are here to be their voice and convey their message.”

Legaret expressed hope for the future of Iran. “The freedom of Iran is near,” he said

 

Families of victims speak of their experience

London-Members of Iranian communities in London

Nagmeh Rajabi: Two of my aunts were executed by the Iranian regime because they supported the PMOI. I pay tribute the PMOI members who were executed in 1988. They refused to kneel before the mullahs’ regime. The people are united to continue their struggles until the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Farzaneh Majidi; The regime has killed five members of my family in 1988.

Farzaneh Majidi; The regime has killed five members of my family in 1988.

 

It is the honor of our generation to continue their path to bring the perpetrators to justice. The regime tries to tarnish the image of the Iranian resistance.

To the western media we warn: Do not let the mullahs regime use you for their dirty ends.

We will continue our efforts to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

Farzaneh Majidi: The regime has killed five members of my family in 1988. My aunt Mehrangiz was 23 years old. Her sentence was finished, but she was executed nonetheless. My aunt Soheila was 19 years old when she was arrested. She was executed too.

My uncles Aziz and Houshang were both executed. So was my brother, who was 16 years old when he was arrested. I speak on behalf of the families the victims of the 1988 massacre.

The British government and the United Nations must condemn this crime as a crime against humanity and set up an independent probe into the event and bring the perpetrators to justice in international courts.

Omid; My father was a witness of the 1988 massacre

Omid; My father was a witness of the 1988 massacre

 

Omid (21-year-old youth from London): My father was a witness of the 1988 massacre. Khomeini executed the members of the Mojahedin because he saw them as an existential threat to his regime. He did not know that the blood of those martyrs would run in our veins, the youth who weren’t even born at the time but are part of the resistance today.

The sacrifice of those martyrs and the martyrs of Ashraf can now be seen in the resistance units in Iran who are protesting in every city for regime change and freedom.

London-Members of Iranian communities in London

London-Members of Iranian communities in London

 

We strongly support Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and here ten-point plan for the future of Iran. This resistance is the only viable alternative to the Iranian regime.

Witness of 1988 massacre: I am ready to give testimony in court

Stockholm-Sweden: Members of Iranian communities in Stockholm, Sweden, joined the conference to commemorate the memory of the victims of the 1988 massacre.

Davoud Rahbar: I’m happy to speak to you on behalf of Iranian communities in Sweden. What happened in 1988 was the biggest crime against humanity since the Second World War. Many of these prisoners had already served more than seven years of their prison sentence.

In the history of massacres across the world, this crime was unprecedented. The regime has shown no mercy to people who oppose it in Iran and abroad.

Sweden has seen many terrorist activities from the regime. Here in Sweden, the regime’s agents have been arrested by the police. Why despite these activities you don’t reach the conclusion that you should? Why don’t you close down the regime’s embassies in Sweden and across Europe?

This is also important for the safety and security of European citizens.

Nasrollah Marandi

Nasrollah Marandi

 

Nasrollah Marandi: I spent ten years in the Iranian regime’s prisons. At the time of the 1988 massacre I was in Gohardasht prison.

I was in the death corridor, where prisoners were sentenced and sent to their death. The prisoners were hanged in the prayer chambers. They asked the prisoners: “Will you repent your support for the Mojahedin?”

The prisoners bravely defended the PMOI. In the history of the Iranian resistance’s struggle against the Iranian regime, the 1988 massacre is a golden chapter. It continues today and we can see the result of their sacrifices in the uprisings across the country today.

Stockholm-Sweden; Members of Iranian communities in Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm-Sweden; Members of Iranian communities in Stockholm, Sweden

 

As a witness of this crime I ask the international community to bring the perpetrators to justice and I’m ready to be a witness in court.

Iranian youth: I have never seen Iran, I support the Iranian resistance

Amsterdam: 24 Iranian associations from different cities of Netherlands joined the online conference and were represented by Raha Heshmat Pour, an Iranian youth who has been supporting the Iranian resistance since she was a teenager.

Raha Heshmat Pour

Raha Heshmat Pour

 

Raha Heshmat Pour: I was born in Netherlands. My mother spent three years in the Iranian regime’s prisons because she supported the PMOI. I became acquainted with the Iranian resistance since I was a teenager and I support them. I’m not alone and many Iranians join me in my support for the PMOI.

30 years ago, many youths such as myself were executed and buried in mass graves. There still hasn’t been an independent inquiry into the crime.

What we want is not only the condemnation of this crime, but also to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice in court. The mullahs must know that no matter how much executions they carry out, they will not be able to hold on to power forever.

The resistance units have expanded and the uprising continues until this regime is overthrown. Under these circumstances, the Iranian regime’s security apparatus is increasing its activities inside Iran and abroad.

My greatest dream is to see a free Iran under the leadership of our dear sister Maryam Rajavi.

Behrooz Omid

Behrooz Omid

In Norway, Behrooz Omid spoke on behalf of the Iranian communities

Behrooz Omid: 30 thousands were martyred, by they never gave up. Appeasement with mullahs must end. Close down the embassies of the mullahs.

Woman activist: The regime of Iran will fall at the hands of the brave women of Iran

Toronto, Canada—Iranians in Canada joined the conference and their representative spoke in support of the Iranian resistance and in memory of the victims of the 1988 massacre.

Toronto, Canada—Iranians in Canada joined the conference

Toronto, Canada—Iranians in Canada joined the conference

 

Shahnaz Fallah: Many freedom-loving women who said no to this regime were executed. The movement for justice has started inside and outside of Iran and has obtained many achievements.

Our goal is to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. We can see the effects of the sacrifice of the victims of the 1988 massacre in the protests that are ongoing across Iran and the slogans for regime change. The women and youth of Iran are widely participating in these demonstrations.

As Mrs. Rajavi has said, this regime will fall at the hands of the brave women of Iran.

Our society strongly supports the NCRI and Mrs. Rajavi’s ten-point plan for a free Iran.

The PMOI is the only alternative to the Iranian regime

Brussels, Belgium—Four societies in Belgium attended the conference. Their representative, Mahmoud Nobari, spoke of the 1988 massacre and the activities of their communities.

Mahmoud Nobari

Mahmoud Nobari

 

Mahmoud Nobari: 30 years ago, Khomeini, the great enemy of freedom, ordered the massacre of 30 thousand political prisoners. They have not been forgotten.

The memory of the victims lives on. PMOI prisoners shouted the forbidden name (Mojahed) and they stood against the brutality of Khomeini’s regime. They said no.

Their struggle continues today in every city and town, where protesters are shouting “Death to dictator.”

One of the important questions we face is, why is the PMOI the only alternative for the future of Iran? The answer, in my opinion, is that they’ve successfully passed all their tests in the past 40 years in every field. They have shown they have the capacity of leading the movement for freedom in Iran. They are the only group who have been through many conspiracies and have passed every trial and tribulation.

Bishop Jaques Gaillot; the massacre of political prisoners in Iran, a true crime against humanity

France—Bishop Jaques Gaillot shared his thoughts on the 1988 massacre and the recent uprisings in Iran.

Bishop Jaques Gaillot

Bishop Jaques Gaillot

 

Jaques Gaillot: The massacre of the youths and political prisoners was without a question a crime against humanity. It cannot remain unpunished. The members of the Iranian resistance preserved their dignity and gave their life because they loved freedom and democracy.

Their deaths will not be in vain and will bear fruit. When we see a new generation in this nation has risen, no one can prevent the fate of this nation.

We will continue to build upon their inspiration and achieve their objectives.

Jean Pierre Muller

Jean Pierre Muller

 

Jean Pierre Muller: In the summer 1988, while we were enjoying our vacations, youth in Iran were being killed in prisons. These people did not have the opportunity to live their life as they had wished.

They didn’t have the freedom we enjoy. This is why we have gathered here today, because we love freedom. We are all from the same family: The family of freedom lovers.

The Iranian regime tries to pollute everything. It is a poison for its own country but also for the Middle East and the entire world. Today, the Iranian regime is a serious danger and we must get rid of it. We must not get tired. They want to eliminate us.

Bukharest, Romania

Mohammad Emami: Our hope is that soon the NCRI, under the leadership of Mrs. Rajavi, will help lead Iran to freedom.

Mohammad Emami

Mohammad Emami

 

Rome, Italy

Esmail Mohades: The PMOI has made every sacrifice for the freedom of the Iranian people. Two years ago, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi called for justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre.

Esmail Mohades

Esmail Mohades

 

Those martyrs sacrificed their lives to show the path to victory to all of us. The uprisings in Iran is the result of the blood of 120 thousand martyrs for freedom.

The people of Iran will regain their sovereignty.

Bern, Switzerland

Neda Amani: The executioners thought they were burying the bodies of the martyrs. But in fact, they were sowing the seeds of uprisings and rebellion, which we see today everywhere in Iran.

Neda Amani

Neda Amani

 

Gothenburg, Sweden

Soheila Dashti: In 1988, Khomeini massacred 30 thousand of our best compatriots with a fatwa. Only limited families were able to be informed and spread the news. Many of them don’t know what happened to their loved ones.

Soheila Dashti

Soheila Dashti

 


Since two years ago, Mrs. Rajavi called for a justice movement, and the efforts led to the exposure of the nature of the death commissions and the regime officials. We have a very important role to play on online platforms to raise awareness on this issue.

The regime tries to block social media networks while at the same time it tries to use it to spread misinformation against the PMOI and the Iranian resistance.

Arhus, Denmark

Manuchehr Forouznadeh: The regime is the enemy of the people. European countries can’t send 18 million euros to the Iranian regime and claim that they are helping the people. The people are represented by the Iranian resistance, by Mrs. Rajavi, whose actions and plans for the future of Iran symbolizes the Iranian people and their will.

Manuchehr Forouznadeh

Manuchehr Forouznadeh

 

The Danish government must know that if it wants to help the Iranian people, they have to close down the Iranian regime’s embassy. This is what we have been demanding for many years. We will continue our efforts for achieving this request.

Vienna, Austria

Minou Mirkhani: The Iranian people has not only executed our people in Iran, but they have also tried to disseminate despair across the world. They are trying to take advantage of the appeasement policy in the West to carry out their plots. The regime was involved in terrorist plots here in Austria. Its diplomat was recently arrested for its involvement in a terrorist plot. We have said time and again that the regime’s embassy is a nest of spies.

Minou Mirkhani

Minou Mirkhani

 

The regime is trying to create fake alternatives, but history has shown that there is no other alternative to the Iranian regime but the NCRI, which can bring freedom and democracy in our country.

Ottawa, Canada

Vahideh Khoramroudi

Vahideh Khoramroudi

 

Vahideh Khoramroudi: The martyrs of the 1988 massacre brought the regime’s executioners to their knees by refusing to giving up on their ideals. Today we can see the inspiration they created through the uprisings that are ongoing across our nation.

Ahmad Hassani

Ahmad Hassani

 

Ahmad Hassani: After 30 years, the youth of Iran are getting inspiration from the martyrs of the 1988 massacre and the heavy price they paid. This is a movement that its members have proven their commitment to freedom and democracy by making the greatest sacrifice.

Frankfurt, Germany

Fakhri Shirazi: Khamenei is unable to confront the uprising of the Iranian people and is resorting to more terrorism abroad to attempt to strike a blow against the PMOI. The regime sees the PMOI as its only existential threat.

Fakhri Shirazi

Fakhri Shirazi

 

We have said since the beginning that terrorism is an inherent part of this regime regardless of who is president. They are more in need of terrorism today than any other time in their history.

We call on European countries to stop supporting this regime and to support the uprising of the people of Iran. We demand the closure of the embassy of the regime and the expulsion of their spies and terrorists.

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