![\"Geneva](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Geneva-conference-1988-massacre-raisi-12122023-1.jpg\" "\\"Geneva")
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On December 12, protesting the United Nations\u2019 invitation of the Iranian regime\u2019s president Ebrahim Raisi to participate at the Global Refugee Forum 2023, a press conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland. At this conference, survivors of the 1988 massacre<\/a> of political prisoners in Iran talked to the media about a legal complaint with the Swiss Federal Public Prosecutor, seeking the arrest and prosecution of Ebrahim Raisi for crimes against humanity, including genocide, torture, and extrajudicial executions.<\/p>\n This conference came against the backdrop of an international campaign, comprising 350 dignitaries signing a statement expressing outrage at Raisi\u2019s participation and urging his prosecution for past and ongoing crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n During the press conference, three plaintiffs who filed the legal complaint against Raisi were present to share their testimonies. Mr. Reza Shamirani, who spent over 10 years in the notorious Evin prison, recounted his face-to-face encounter with Raisi during the 1988 death commissions. Also in attendance were Mr. Ali Zolfaqari, imprisoned for 12 years, and Mrs. Razieh Qodrati, a former political prisoner who lost her brother in the 1988 massacre.<\/p>\n The central message of the press conference was clear: a regime with a record of executions and sponsorship of terrorism is unwelcome at the United Nations. The organizers emphasized the need for accountability and justice for crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n Hosting the press conference, Zolal Habibi <\/strong>from NCRI’s Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned Ebrahim Raisi<\/a>‘s visit to Switzerland, underscoring the international community’s failure to hold the regime\u2019s president accountable for ongoing crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n She pointed to precedents in Scotland and New York, where complaints from Iranian victims of the 1988 massacre successfully prevented Raisi’s attendance at international conferences. She lamented the lack of political will among the global community to address Raisi’s actions, leading to continued human rights abuses.<\/p>\n Highlighting Raisi’s involvement in the 2019 and 2020 crackdowns on protesters, Ms. Habibi exposed the execution toll in Iran, with over 220 people executed in the past two months alone, including political prisoners, minors, and women.<\/p>\n Addressing concerns about the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Raisi’<\/a>s delegation, Ms. Habibi identified key members with ties to the IRGC and the Quds Force, warning about their entry into Switzerland. She emphasized that the European Parliament has called for the blacklisting of the IRGC, recognizing the Quds Force as a terrorist entity.<\/p>\n Reza Shemirani<\/strong>, a Swiss resident and former political prisoner, spoke out against the upcoming visit of Ebrahim Raisi<\/a> to Switzerland. Shemirani, imprisoned from 1981 to 1990 for his support of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK), expressed shock at Raisi being invited by Swiss authorities.<\/p>\n As one of three petitioners filing a complaint against the regime\u2019s president, Shemirani underscored the contradiction and the alarming human rights situation in Iran, where thousands face imprisonment for seeking freedom. Recounting his personal experience during the 1988 massacre in Tehran, Shemirani pointed to Raisi’s role and questioned the motives behind the visit, suggesting it certainly be for political convenience rather than genuine concern for human rights.<\/p>\n Responding to a reporter about the news that Raisi might have canceled his trip to Geneva, Mr. Shemirani highlighted the existence of international legal jurisdiction, pointing to successful arrests of individuals abroad in the past. He believed that Raisi\u2019s recent decision could be influenced by the fear of potential legal consequences, citing the case of Hamid Nouri, who faced arrest and trial in Sweden after a trip.<\/p>\n Geneva: Witnesses to #1988Massacre<\/a> in #Iran<\/a> file legal complaint against Raisi #ProsecuteRaisiNow<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/sSFci78mm9<\/a><\/p>\n — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n