In a powerful display of opposition, supporters of the Iranian Resistance gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City on May 30, 2024, to protest a memorial ceremony for Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran’s regime.
The rally was organized to condemn the neglection of Raisi’s human rights violations and his involvement in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in Iran during the late 1980s. The protesters chanted slogans against the regime and called for justice for the victims of Raisi’s regime. Chants against the regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei echoed through the streets as demonstrators held signs and banners denouncing the memorial ceremony for Raisi. The protesters also held placards with pictures of thousands of political prisoners who were executed by Raisi.
Video
7- #NewYork, May 30th, 2024: Iranian Americans and supporters of #MEK protest the planned memorial for Ebrahim #Raisi at the @UN. They urge support for the resistance of the Iranian people for #IranRegimeChange. #RaisiMassMurderer #1988Massacre #FreeIran2024 pic.twitter.com/OkNE26ThB6— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 30, 2024
“UN, UN shame on you!” the protesters chanted as they marched near the UN headquarters.
Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), reminded that the UN has officially condemned the mullahs’ regime for its human rights violations on 70 occasions. “How can Western governments turn a blind eye to the continued crimes of this regime against the people of Iran?” she said.
Hasn't the @UN condemned the Iranian regime 70 times for violating #HumanRights? Isn't it the world's leading record holder for executions? Hasn't this regime committed crimes against humanity, as attested by lawyers and human rights defenders, including Amnesty International? So… pic.twitter.com/pqjkRQGWjI
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 28, 2024
Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, served as the president of Iran from 2021 until his death. In the past four decades, he carried out numerous crimes under this regime. The main highlight of his bloody career is his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988, most of whom were associated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Raisi was a member of the “Death Commission” responsible for the execution of approximately 30,000 dissidents, a fact that has drawn international condemnation.
Raisi also played an important role in the killing of thousands of protesters during the 2019 and 2022 nationwide protests.
Some world leaders expressed sympathy and condolences for Raisi’s death. However, the backlash from politicians and human rights organizations across the world has been significant, with many appalled by the show of sympathy towards a regime known for its human rights abuses.
The UN ceremony also drew condemnation from politicians, lawmakers, and human rights activists across the world. On May 29, a U.S. official told Reuters, “We won’t attend this event in any capacity… “Some of the worst human rights abuses on record, especially against the women and girls of Iran, took place during his tenure.”
Images from UN General Assembly on May 30 showed an empty hall and many countries refrained from sending delegations to pay tribute to a man who has marked his life with executions, death, and violence.
Disgrace at the @UN: Memorial for a Tyrant
UN’s shocking homage to Ebrahim Raisi, "Butcher of Tehran," wasn’t just shameful; it was a grotesque farce. How can dialogue on human rights occur in a chamber that pays tribute to a #massmurderer involved in the #1998Massacre in #Iran?… pic.twitter.com/QCHUtt9T2U— Ali Safavi (@amsafavi) May 30, 2024