On Tuesday September 19, 2023, thousands of Iranian Americans gathered in the shadow of the United Nations building in New York City to protest against the Iranian regime president Ebrahim Raisi and call for his prosecution for crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners. The 1988 mass executions targeted Iran’s main opposition, the MEK, but Raisi’s role extends to killing protesters since 2017.
Bipartisan members of Congress, led by Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) condemned President Raisi’s presence in New York by highlighting his involvement in the 1988 Massacre of political prisoners. They sent a letter to President Biden, expressing their support for the rally against Raisi and calling for him to be held accountable for his crimes.
The huge rally was the centerpiece of a week long campaign organized by the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) which also included picket lines outside Raisi’s hotel, photo exhibitions near the United Nations, and reenactment of Raisi’s role in the infamous “death committee.” All Phases of the campaign were duly covered in the media and the social media. ABC Nighline included OIAC’s UN photo exhibition in its September 18th program, documenting the horrific details of Raisi’s crimes though the eyes of Iranian Americans and former political prisoners.
The event’s keynote speaker was Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. She stressed how the clerical regime is primed for total collapse and dismissed attempts to downplay the ongoing resistance in Iran. She said, “These shameless theatrics, namely welcoming the mullahs’ criminal president at the UN headquarters, can never obscure the profound, ongoing, and major developments in Iran.”
Prominent U.S. political figures, religious figures, and Iranian Americans also addressed the rally. Former Senator Joseph Lieberman praised the Iranian resistance and said, “This movement for a free Iran is stronger today than it has ever been.” He then added, “In the last year, 3,600 lawmakers in 61 parliaments in 41 countries in the world have endorsed the Ten-Point Plan of NCRI and Mrs. Rajavi. Add to that 124 former leaders and 75 Nobel Prize winners.”
Former Senator Sam Brownback urged, “support for the Iranian people’s yearning for freedom and democracy, calling for an end to financial support for the ruling mullahs. He added, “Let’s back the yearning of the people of Iran. No more money to the ruling mullahs. If we’ve learned nothing else, giving money to terrorists only gets you more terrorism.”
Former Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) painted a grim future for Raisi and compared him to past tyrants. He addressed Raisi directly and said “He is a murderer. His hands have blood on them,”.
In his remarks, Ambassador Marc Ginsberg said Raisi is, “The man who ordered the murder of thousands of imprisoned Iranians seeking freedom from the oppression of the Ayatollahs. Yet despite the oppression, the march to freedom goes on inside Iran, and the revolution continues.”
Speakers and protesters echoed the voice of Iran uprising, which is democratic regime changeably the people of Iran and their organized resistance. Participants also called on all UN member-states to hold the regime accountable for its terrorism, hostage taking, and crimes against humanity.
News coverage from @CBSNewYork on today’s #UNRally4FreeIran ⬇️pic.twitter.com/sXp6j3GN1m
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) September 19, 2023
The message of the rally was clear. First, that the Iranian society has been a powder keg for years. Events like the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini last year have acted as triggers and foretell of the fact that more widespread protests are to be expected. Second, the free world must actively support the Iranian people, both in words and actions; recognizing their right to overthrow the oppressive regime, and establish a secular, democratic, non-nuclear republic Iran. No form of appeasement or financial aid should be offered to bolster the clerical regime.
