Iranian opposition leader sends message on 30th anniversary of mass execution of political prisoners

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

 “Khomeini wished to remove every single trace of them so that nothing would remain of their graves and even of their names. But they were neither forgotten nor silenced,” Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said in a statement on the 30^th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in Iran.

In summer 1988, Ruhollah Khomeini, then-leader of the clerical regime ruling Iran, issued a fatwa to purge all the prisons of the country from political prisoners affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin (PMOI/MEK). In the months that followed, the Iranian regime executed more than 30,000 prisoners simply for not repenting their ties with the MEK. A large number of those prisoners had been initially arrested for actions that aren’t even considered criminal offenses, such as reading the MEK’s newspaper. Many had finished their sentences and were lingering in prison long after they should have been released.

Mrs. Rajavi said that while Khomeini’s goal was to kill all resistance against his regime by wiping out the opposition, the result has been the opposite. “They were neither forgotten nor silenced. To the contrary, they rose up again from fameless towns and cities, from Izeh, Doroud, Ghahdarijan, Touyserkan, Baneh, Kazerun and Chabahar, to fuel the flames of the uprising in December/January and spread the protests all across the country,” Mrs. Rajavi said, referring to the nationwide protests that have spread across Iran since the turn of the year.

While economic woes have been the main trigger of the ongoing protests, demonstrators across the country are united in their beliefs that the source of all of Iran’s problems is the ruling mullahs and only regime change will fix the situation. Chants of “Death to the dictator,” “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Rouhani” have become very popular among demonstrators. Protesters are also rejecting any chance of reform from within the regime by calling out against all rivaling factions in the regime.

Mrs. Rajavi said that the sacrifice of the victims of the 1988 massacre can be seen today in the protests and slogans in the streets of Iran’s cities. “The nationwide uprising persisting today is the continuation of their blood-drenched perseverance,” her statement reads.

Mrs. Rajavi also underlined the need to hold the perpetrators of the mass executions to account. “Calling for justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre is one of the most important political demands of the Iranian people from the mullahs’ regime,” she said, adding that the crime was so heinous that even many of the regime’s own officials don’t dare defend it.

She also denounced the regime for trying to wipe traces of the crime by destroying the mass, unmarked graves where the executed prisoners were buried.

Many of the perpetrators and orchestrators of the 1988 massacre still hold positions of power in the Iranian regime. “The majority of those involved in this carnage, from both factions, are holding top positions in the regime. Over the past 30 years, except for a 4-year period, the Ministry of Justice has been directed by members of the Death Committees,” Mrs. Rajavi said.

Death Committees were small groups of clerics appointed by the highest authorities in the regime, which went to different cities in Iran to try and decide the fate of prisoners. In very prompt trials, the Committee asked each prisoner about their political affiliations. Those who refused to denounce the MEK were sent to the gallows. Mostafa Pourmohamadi, one of the members of the main Death Committees who sealed the fate of thousands of prisoners in the Evin and Gohardasht prisons, previously served as Minister of Justice under Hassan Rouhani, the self-proclaimed “moderate” president of the Iranian regime.

While several international human rights bodies have described the 1988 executions as a crime against humanity, there haven’t been enough efforts to hold its perpetrators to account. “One of the most treacherous features of the policy of appeasement over the past three decades has been turning a blind eye on the massacre of political prisoners which was a crime against humanity and the worst political crime after the Second World War,” Mrs. Rajavi said. “To rectify the damages caused by this disastrous policy, the UN Security Council must refer the case of the 1988 massacre to the International Criminal Court and prepare for the prosecution of the Iranian regime leaders and those responsible for the massacre.”

Read the full statement here.

Message by Maryam Rajavi for the 30th Anniversary of the Massacre of 30,000 Red Roses of Freedom

Dear compatriots, 
The thirtieth anniversary of the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran, the red roses of freedom, is a day of taking pride for every freedom-loving Iranian and every Iranian protester who has opted to topple the mullahs’ religious dictatorship.

The PMOI members and other freedom-loving combatants who were massacred in 1988, stood tall when hanged from the gallows so that the Iranian nation could be proud in one of the darkest eras of her history.

Khomeini wished to remove every single trace of them so that nothing would remain of their graves and even of their names. But they were neither forgotten nor silenced. To the contrary, they rose up again from fameless towns and cities, from Izeh, Doroud, Ghahdarijan, Touyserkan, Baneh, Kazerun and Chabahar, to fuel the flames of the uprising in December/January and spread the protests all across the country.

This is their nocturnal song whispering in our ears:
I am the bird of fire
I am burning in the flames of my blazing love
When I completely burn
and the flames of my restless spirit subside,
I will rise again
from below the ashes
and start life anew

Yes, they remained steadfast in defending the PMOI’s positions for the Iranian nation’s freedom. They solidified the crimson demarcation lines of freedom and honor against submission and servitude. They are the restless conscience of Iranian society who sow the seeds of protest and revolt.

The nationwide uprising persisting today is the continuation of their blood-drenched perseverance. The resistance units and pioneers of the Call-for-Justice movement continue on the path of those heroes.

Calling for justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre is one of the most important political demands of the Iranian people from the mullahs’ regime. Today, this call has challenged the regime in its entirety. The regime’s leaders neither dare to defend Khomeini’s fatwa for the massacre of the Mojahedin nor can they distance themselves from this great crime because all of them were, directly or indirectly, involved in this crime.

Thirty years ago, the ramifications of the massacre of political prisoners caused the biggest rift in the highest levels of the Khomeini regime and led to the ouster of his heir-apparent, and today, despite the passage of three decades, they still challenge the ruling mullahs.

The mullahs continue to struggle to remove the traces of their crimes. Razing the graves of the massacred children of Khuzestan in Ahvaz, which Amnesty International described as an example of torture of their families, is part of the regime’s criminal efforts to confront the Call-for-Justice movement.

Under the pressure brought about by this campaign over the past year, at least 20 senior officials of the regime including Ali Khamenei, have clearly defended the crime. Such brazen confessions are new documents on this crime against humanity committed by the mullahs ruling Iran. The same admissions have been noted in the report of the UN Secretary-General as well as in the report of the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, the late Asma Jahangir.

The majority of those involved in this carnage, from both factions, are holding top positions in the regime. Over the past 30 years, except for a 4-year period, the Ministry of Justice has been directed by members of the Death Committees.

Fellow compatriots,
Thanks to the endeavors of the Iranian Resistance, the US House of Representatives adopted a bill this year which for the first time, registered the massacre of political prisoners and stressed the need to hold the regime accountable. Earlier, in the UK House of Commons, they adopted a resolution on the 1988 massacre.

As Massoud Rajavi said, prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators and masterminds of the 1988 massacre is the right of the people of Iran, the right of humanity, and the right of the PMOI.

One of the most treacherous features of the policy of appeasement over the past three decades has been turning a blind eye on the massacre of political prisoners which was a crime against humanity and the worst political crime after the Second World War. To rectify the damages caused by this disastrous policy, the UN Security Council must refer the case of the 1988 massacre to the International Criminal Court and prepare for the prosecution of the Iranian regime leaders and those responsible for the massacre.

Once again, I urge my fellow compatriots and all freedom loving people to actively participate in the Call-for-Justice movement for victims of the 1988 massacre. This is the movement of the oppressed. This is the voice of the oppressed. Everyone who has experienced imprisonment and detention, anyone who has been flogged, any woman who has been assaulted and humiliated, and every grieving soul, is a member of this movement. Demanding justice for victims of the 1988 massacre is today part of the movement for the overthrow of the clerical regime.

Without the doubt, the Iranian people will achieve victory in the struggle to topple the mullahs and the regime’s leaders will face justice for their crimes against humanity. That day will certainly come.

Hail to the heroes of the 1988 massacre who said “No” to the regime. By doing so, they branded the entirety of this corrupt and inhuman regime with the seal of certain overthrow.