Express Report on Iran’s Bloody Secrets: Exposing the Horrific Ongoing Crimes of the Islamic Republic

Express reported that according to recent research published by Amnesty International, the Iranian government is engaged in “ongoing crimes against humanity” stemming from the massacre of thousands of political opponents in 1988.

The 1988 executions were a series of executions of political prisoners across Iran with government support. Most of those killed were supporters of the “People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran,” though supporters of other groups were also executed. These massacres have been described as a political settling of accounts.

Regarding the number of those executed, there are varying accounts ranging from 30,000 to close to 4,500 people, with Amnesty International accepting the latter figure. In a recent Amnesty International report titled “Iran’s Bloody Secrets: Why Iran’s Prison Massacre in 1988 is Ongoing Crimes Against Humanity,” it states that more details about the massacre have been revealed through the efforts of victims to seek justice for their loved ones.

In this 201-page report released on December 4, it is claimed: “Between July and September 1988, Iranian authorities secretly and forcibly disappeared or executed thousands of opposing political prisoners unlawfully and buried their bodies in unmarked mass graves.”

“Since then, responsible authorities have treated these massacres as state secrets and, by refusing to provide any explanation about how and why the massacres occurred and where the executed were buried, have tormented their families.”

“No responsible official has been tried, and in some cases, individuals involved in those massacres have remained or previously held positions of power.”

Among the theories presented for these executions is retaliation against attacks by the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran from the western border in 1988.

Sheila Nenevati, a former political prisoner and human rights activist, says: “Iran is an ancient country with an excellent history of human rights, but under the rule of mullahs, it has lost not only dignity but also its national resources.”

Masoud Daluand, a human rights activist and anti-regime blogger, believes: “As a result of three decades of international community silence about the massacre of political prisoners in Iran, the mullahs have continued human rights violations in Iran with impunity and have committed terrorist operations and catastrophic wars in the Middle East and other countries. It is now time to end this silence.”

Ahmad Ebrahimi, one of those detained in Gohardasht Prison, speaking about his shocking experience from those days, says: “150 of us were taken to interrogation rooms to tell them our views about the regime. If we didn’t say we supported the regime, they would immediately kill us.”

Raha Bahraini, senior researcher on Iran affairs at Amnesty International, calls on the United Nations to “help the families and survivors.” “We believe this serious violation of human rights in Iran since 1988 is linked to the immunity of Iranian authorities from punishment for crimes against humanity,” she says.

Source: Voice of America