Appeal to Security Council: Iran’s Violence Against Protesters Must Be Condemned

A number of human rights advocates inside and outside Iran have submitted a letter to the rotating president of the Security Council, calling on the body to designate the suppression of people during November protests as a “crime against humanity” and issue a resolution on the matter.

Sixteen human rights supporters, on behalf of political and civil activists imprisoned in Iran, have sent a letter to Kelly Craft, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and the rotating president of the Security Council, calling for the body’s attention to the severe suppression of people during November protests. They write that the Islamic Republic’s approach should be condemned as a “crime against humanity.”

The letter states: “The Islamic Republic is an illegitimate and rogue government that savagely suppressed unarmed people who peacefully protested against its tyranny and oppression through nationwide internet shutdowns.”

The signatories cited a recent Reuters report which estimates the death toll of the November protests at 1,500 people, including 400 women and approximately 20 children. Referring to the arrest of Poya Bakhtiari’s family and security forces’ prevention of holding a memorial ceremony for the victims, they asked: “How many more Poyas must be killed before the world declares this massacre a crime against humanity?”

Nazila Golestan, a representative for human rights in the Iranian National Council and one of the signatories, explained the motivation behind writing the letter to Deutsche Welle: “After the Reuters and France 24 reports on the extent and scope of suppressions, and after the arrest of Poya Bakhtiari’s family, we thought we should do something to draw more global attention. We urgently contacted different people late at night, and after several people responded to our proposal, we wrote the letter. Now additional people have responded and agreed to sign, though their names have not yet been added.”

When asked why the Security Council was chosen as the recipient of this appeal, Ms. Golestan stated: “The Security Council is the only body that can issue such a resolution. According to the Rome Statute, if such a resolution is issued in the Security Council, the case can be referred to The Hague Court.”

The International Criminal Court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is responsible for investigating genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, and reviews cases that have been referred to it upon approval by the UN Security Council.

In the open letter to Ms. Craft, the Security Council has also been asked to demonstrate its support and solidarity with the Iranian people who are fighting for “freedom of expression and freedom of political choice.”

Six women and ten men have signed this letter. Among them are Mohammad Karim Bighi, father of Mostafa Karim Bighi, a victim of 2009 protests, Hossein Daimi, father of Atena Daimi, a civil activist imprisoned in Evin, Elham Yaqobian, a translator, writer and human rights activist, Mehdi Yahya Nejad, founder of the Balaater website and director of the “Toshe” project, Niloofar Gholami, a journalist and women’s rights activist, Mehdi Rajbarian, a composer, Hossein Rajbarian, a filmmaker, Yaqoob Najari, a judo trainer, Reza Pirzadeh, a member of the political bureau of the National Council of Iranians, and Abdulsattar Doshooki, director of the Center for Baluch Studies.

Source: DW