{"id":230911,"date":"2020-12-11T16:36:22","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=230911"},"modified":"2023-02-01T05:30:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T04:30:32","slug":"significance-of-un-experts-letter-on-1988-massacre-victory-for-justice-seeking-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/human-rights\/significance-of-un-experts-letter-on-1988-massacre-victory-for-justice-seeking-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Significance of UN Experts\u2019 Letter on 1988 Massacre: Victory for Justice Seeking Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"United-Nations_21092020\"<\/p>\n

The letter by seven United Nations Special Rapporteurs, made public on Wednesday, on the 1988 massacre of Iranian political prisoners is a significant development in the justice-seeking movement for the victims of this crime against humanity.<\/p>\n

In the summer of 1988, the Iranian regime massacred<\/a> over 30,000 political prisoners, mainly members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The UN Special Rapporteurs who co-signed the letter<\/a> are Luciano Hazan, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Fionnuala N\u00ed Aol\u00e1in, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and Fabian Salvioli, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.<\/p>\n

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UN Special Rapporteurs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UN Special Rapporteurs have underlined if the Iranian regime continues to ignore its obligations under international human rights law, they urge the international community to launch its investigation into the massacre<\/a>, “including through the establishment of an international investigation.”<\/p>\n

They also underlined the 1988 massacre “may amount to crimes against humanity” and “the systematic concealment of the fate and whereabouts of the victims amounts to an ongoing crime against humanity of enforced disappearance.”<\/p>\n

Robert A. Destro, the United States Department of State’s Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, underlined the need for an independent investigation into the 1988 massacre, highlighting that the mullahs’ regime will continue to refuse to investigate its crime.<\/p>\n

“The United States echoes the UN’s call for an independent investigation into mass disappearances and summary executions in Iran in 1988, though the alleged involvement of current senior officials makes it highly unlikely the regime will investigate itself. The regime has failed to provide families an accounting of the fate of their loved ones. Instead, they threaten families and desecrate grave sites. Iranians deserve justice. We urge the international community to hold the regime accountable to the UN’s demands,” he wrote on Twitter.<\/p>\n

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The regime has failed to provide families an accounting of the fate of their loved ones. Instead, they threaten families and desecrate grave sites. Iranians deserve justice. We urge the international community to hold the regime accountable to the UN's demands. #HumanRightsDay<\/a><\/p>\n

— Assistant Secretary for DRL (@DRL_AS) December 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n