Berlin Victims' Memorial: International Panel to Investigate Killings in Iran

Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the victims of the protests in Iran, Iranian political and activist groups in Berlin also held a memorial ceremony. The organizing committee of the ceremony called for the dispatch of an impartial international delegation to investigate the killings in Iran.

Iranian political and civil activists living in Berlin expressed their sympathy with the families of the victims of the protests by lighting candles on the evening of Thursday, December 26, coinciding with the 40th day since the deaths of those killed in the November protests in Iran.

At this memorial ceremony, which was growing in size every moment, the attendees lit candles on a corner of the sidewalk where the gathering was held, chanted slogans, and protested against the "crimes of the Islamic Republic" and the suppression of the people's uprising, calling those arrested and killed in the November protests "freedom and justice seekers" who were demanding their demands.

Despite repeated requests from political activists and human rights organizations, the authorities of the Islamic Republic have so far avoided releasing the number of victims of the November crackdown in Iranian cities. In a report, Reuters quoted "reliable sources" close to the Supreme Leader's residence and the Iranian Ministry of Interior as saying that the number of victims of the November protests was 1,500.

The Reuters report states that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, personally ordered the suppression and killing of protesters.

“Handling the Recent Tragedies in Iran”

The memorial service for the victims of the Iranian protests in Berlin was held by the “Support Committee for the Democratic Struggles of the Iranian People – Berlin.” The committee announced that it was calling for the dispatch of an “impartial international delegation” to condemn the “criminal” actions of the Islamic Republic, investigate the recent tragedies, and release all political prisoners.

Kourosh Amjadi, a political activist and a member of the Committee to Support the Democratic Struggles of the Iranian People in Berlin, told DW that the purpose of forming this committee and holding the memorial ceremony is to stand with the grieving mothers and protest the "barbaric and repressive inhumane actions of the Islamic Republic, which, in addition to killing and arresting people," suppresses even their peaceful marches.

Amjadi added that this committee is not intended to become a party or faction, but rather the goal of its members is to support popular protests in Iran and convey their voices of protest abroad and to human rights institutions and organizations.

Pointing out that "the Iranian people have overcome the Islamic Republic system through their own efforts," he added, "The recent repressions have further shown that the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic has been questioned in the eyes of the people inside. The massacres during the November protests are also the result of the regime's officials becoming agitated."

Farhad Farjad, a political activist and one of the attendees at the ceremony, also spoke to Deutsche Welle about the fragility of the structure and the collapse of the hegemony of the Islamic Republic, adding that, unlike the Green Movement, the reaction of the recent protesters in Iran is completely reactionary and they are not willing to “back down.” The repressive forces and security agents also know that the protesters are people with a certain economic status and are of the same class as themselves.

“The system is being hit by the marginalized”

Farjad also noted that “the protesters in Iran today were raised in the lap of this same government,” adding that the Islamic government in Iran is being “hit” by the marginalized. The repressive forces are also aware of the dire situation of the system, which has lost its legitimacy.

He added that these protesters do not intend to remain silent, and this issue is a profound challenge for the Islamic Republic.

Another challenge for the Islamic Republic officials, according to Hamid Nozari, is the “irresponsibility and deceit” of the Islamic Republic officials regarding the repression. This political activist and head of the Iranian Political Refugee Center in Berlin continued that “the Islamic Republic commits crimes against its own people, but it pursues deceitful policies and, on the other hand, does not accept responsibility for its crimes.”

He added that holding dozens of similar ceremonies in different European cities in memory of the victims of the November uprising and in solidarity with the families of the victims is a response to the crimes of the Islamic Republic.

Despite the extreme cold, the fact that Thursday was a holiday, and the upcoming holidays leading up to the end of 2019, about 350 Iranians attended the ceremony. Holding placards in Persian and German, they chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic.

The release of political prisoners was another request made by those present at the event.

Source: DW