Rajavi Calls for Prosecution of Those Responsible for 1988 Massacre

On Saturday, in 20 cities throughout North America and Europe, members of the Iranian resistance and their supporters gathered to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. The keynote speaker at the event was Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of resistance groups focused on regime change.

Various speakers included former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy and leaders from throughout Europe. Others spoke about their experiences during 1988 and the impact on their families.

Paid Homage to the Fallen While Calling for Justice

Rajavi opened her remarks by speaking about the example of those who were executed in the summer of 1988. She noted that it was critical to continue to expand the movement seeking justice for these individuals. In the book Crime Against Humanity, the political prisoners were executed in 110 cities throughout Iran in the matter of a few months with many ending up in mass graves.

“For three decades, the international community has been silent over the massacre of political prisoners in Iran. As a result, the mullahs have continued to with impunity to violate human rights in Iran, crack down on public protests, launch terrorist operations, and wage catastrophic wars in the Middle East and other countries. Now, the time has come to end this silence,” said Rajavi.

Calls for Action from the International Community

Throughout her speech, Rajavi continued to call for the UN Security Council to prepare for the prosecution of the leaders within the Iranian government responsible for the massacre. She noted that many of the individuals involved in this crime against humanity are now part of the current Iranian regime leadership.

She also called for the regime’s spies and mercenaries that are hiding under diplomatic protection through Iranian embassies to be expelled from these countries and all relations with Iran need to be terminated. The Iranian regime uses its diplomatic resources to promote terrorism and its activities against the Iranian resistance.

“The time has come for the world community to stand by the people of Iran in their uprising against the religious fascist regime ruling Iran and recognize their determination for regime change,” said Rajavi. She acknowledged that the regime uses execution to respond to any perceived dissent.

For Rajavi, the reality of life in Iran means that participating in protests and demonstrations can result in detention and torture.

“The resistance units in Iran follow the footsteps of those men and women who said no to the regime and were massacred in 1988. The clerical regime is beleaguered by the eight-month long uprisings, by the growing role of the PMOI and resistance units in organizing and leading the revolts, and by the consequences of a plummeting and drowning economy,” said Rajavi.

She called for condemnation of the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses and violations.