Updates

US State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

US: Enforced disappearances related to 1988 massacre continue unabated in Iran

The enforced disappearances of thousands of political dissidents perpetrated by the government of Iran, in what became known as the 1988 massacre, continue unabated, as Iran continues to conceal the fate and the whereabouts of the victims, the United States State Department announced on August 30, 2020. The US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human […]

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Tahar Boumedra

Tahar Boumedra tells global summit it’s time for UN to probe the 1988 massacre

Tahar Boumedra of Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) told an online global summit about the 1988 massacre that it is high time for the United Nations to launch an independent investigation into this unpunished crime against humanity. Boumedra, a former head of the UN human rights office in Iraq,

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Media coverage of Iran’s 1988 massacre this past week

Numerous articles have been published in the international media in the past week about the need for a United Nations investigation into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. The articles were written by survivors of the 1988 massacre, relatives of the victims and international lawmakers. The human rights group Amnesty International also tweeted

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Opinion: The UN Failed to Address Iran’s Crimes Against Humanity, It’s Time For Western Democracies to Step In

JVMI official Tahar Boumedra has penned a piece for TownHall.com about the need to bring the perpetrators of Iran’s 1988 massacre to justice. The opinion piece was published on 3 August 2020. The following is the full text of the piece: https://townhall.com/columnists/taharboumedra/2020/08/03/the-un-failed-to-address-irans-crimes-against-humanity-its-time-for-western-democracies-to-step-in-n2573608 The UN Failed to Address Iran’s Crimes Against Humanity, It’s Time For Western

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Morgan Ortagus

US State Department calls for international investigation into Iran’s 1988 massacre

United States State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus on 15 July 2020 called on the international community to conduct independent investigations into the 1988 massacre and to provide accountability and justice. She said: “July 19th marks the anniversary of the start of Iran’s so-called ‘Death Commissions.’ On the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini, these commissions reportedly forcibly

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Amnesty International has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to address the "crisis of impunity" resulting from Iran's "ongoing crimes against humanity".

Amnesty International urges UN to investigate Iran’s 1988 massacre

Amnesty International has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to address the “crisis of impunity” resulting from Iran’s “ongoing crimes against humanity”. In a written statement to the Human Rights Council’s 40th session, Amnesty International urged Member States to investigate Iran’s 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners with a view to ensuring that

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Victims of Iran's 1988 massacre of political prisoners

December 2018: Amnesty International’s report on the 1988 massacre

In December 2018, Amnesty International published a 201-page report “Blood-soaked secrets: Why Iran’s 1988 prison massacres are ongoing crimes against humanity” calling on the UN to set up an independent investigation to help bring those responsible for these abhorrent crimes to justice. The report said: “Amnesty International’s research leaves the organization in no doubt that,

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Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi's interview with Iran’s state-run Mosalas magazine - July 24, 2019

Excerpts of Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi’s interview with Iran’s Mosalas magazine – July 24, 2019

The following is an English translation of Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi’s remarks to Iran’s state-run weekly magazine Mosalas about the 1988 massacre: Question: A major accusation against the Islamic Republic, which is usually picked up by foreign news organizations, relates to the issue of the ‘Hypocrites’ (the regime’s derogatory phrase used to describe the People’s Mojahedin, PMOI or

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Iranian authorities destroy mass grave of victims of the 1988 massacre in Ahvaz

On 20 July 2018, the families of the victims of the 1988 massacre and eyewitnesses who had gone to visit the graves of members of the People’s Mojahedin (PMOI) in Padadshahr District, situated behind Behesht-Abad Cemetery, found that the graves of their loved ones had been destroyed, according to information received by Justice for the

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UN must act on new report detailing destruction of mass graves related to the 1988 massacre in Iran

JVMI welcomes the new joint report today by Amnesty International and Justice For Iran highlighting the Iranian authorities’ deliberate desecration and destruction of mass graves related to the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners. JVMI urges UN High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to support the launch of an independent inquiry to bring justice

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March 2018: New report by UN Special Rapporteur on Iran reiterates need for investigation into 1988 massacre

The latest report to the United Nations Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the late Asma Jahangir, drew attention to the need for an investigation into the 1988 massacre. The report (A/HRC/37/68), presented to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, included

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Call for justice over Iran’s 1988 massacre a key theme at UN Human Rights Council

UN must end impunity for Iran Justice Minister, perpetrator of crime against humanity

Families of the victims of the 1988 massacre are appalled at the misuse of the United Nations human rights institutions by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian Justice Minister Alireza Avaei, a perpetrator of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, on Monday entered the premises of the UN in Geneva to attend the High-Level Segment

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Iran's Justice Minister Alireza Avaei

Ban Iran’s Justice Minister from addressing UN Human Rights Council over his role in crime against humanity in 1988 massacre

Families of the victims of the 1988 massacre are deeply concerned over the planned participation of the Iranian Justice Minister Alireza Avaei at the High-Level Segment of the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council on 27 February 2018.

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António Guterres highlights ongoing calls for truth over Iran’s 1988 massacre

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has in a new report highlighted the ongoing calls for truth and justice over the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. A new report by the Secretary-General to the UN General Assembly about the “Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, dated 31 October 2017,

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Photo - mass graves from Iran’s 1988 massacre

Interactive map of mass graves from Iran’s 1988 massacre (with photos)

In 1988, Iran’s regime massacred an estimated 30,000 political prisoners. The executions took place based on a fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini. The victims were buried in secret mass graves. An investigation by JVMI in 2016-2017 has traced the existence of 59 mass graves across Iran. The findings are based on eye-witness reports, information provided by family members

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Asma Jahangir UN Special Rapporteur on Iran

August 2017: New report by UN Special Rapporteur draws attention to Iran’s 1988 massacre

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran has in her latest report made numerous references to the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran, pointing out that the families of the victims have a right to know the truth about these events and the fate of their

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Iran's Justice Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi defends his role in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.

Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi appointed as Advisor to Iran’s Judiciary Chief

Once again, the Iranian authorities are indicating that they plan to continue the impunity for officials involved in the extra-judicial mass execution of political prisoners. Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, a notorious member of the 1988 ‘Death Commission’ in Tehran, which sent thousands of political prisoners for execution, has been appointed as Advisor to the head of Iran’s

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Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: Executioners in #Iran’s #1988Massacre deserve medals

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: Executioners in Iran’s 1988 massacre deserve medals

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a board member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts and Tehran’s acting Friday prayer leader, in a sermon on 21 July 2017 cried out against calls for justice over the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. Khatami went as far as saying medals of honour should be awarded to those who, under

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Ali Fallahian, former Intelligence Minister of Iran, says Khomeini ordered the execution of all PMOI affiliates during 1988 massacre

Ali Fallahian, former Intelligence Minister of Iran, says Khomeini ordered the execution of all PMOI affiliates during 1988 massacre

In an interview with the state-affiliated Tarikh Online website, Ali Fallahian, Iran’s former Minister of Intelligence, has acknowledged that a fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini in the summer of 1988 called for the eradication of all affiliates of the main Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI or MEK). The interview, which lasted more

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Brave student in Tabriz University denounces #Iran's #1988massacre

Brave student in Tabriz Uni denounces Iran’s 1988 massacre

On 22 April 2017, a brave student in Tabriz University, north-west Iran, publicly denounced human rights abuses by the authorities in Iran, highlighting in particular the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. Addressing on the stage Hassan Abbasi, a former senior Revolutionary Guards officer, the Iranian student also condemned the IRGC’s role in the murder of

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35th session of the Human Rights Council

UN commission of inquiry needed to end impunity over Iran’s 1988 massacre

Five human rights organisations with consultative status to the United Nations human rights body have submitted a joint written statement to the 35th session of the Human Rights Council about the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran and the need for the international community to hold the perpetrators to account. The joint written statement

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US THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - Capital Hill - US Congress

Draft bill in US Congress condemns Iran’s 1988 massacre of political prisoners

A draft bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the government of Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners and for denying the evidence of crimes against humanity. The draft bill “H. RES. 188”, sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX) on 9 March 2017, has already been cosponsored by

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Amnesty warns against desecration of mass grave in Iran that would destroy crucial forensic evidence of 1988 massacre

On 1 June 2017, Amnesty International published a news item on its website warning that the Iranian authorities may be attempting to desecrate a mass grave site in Ahvaz, southern Iran, that would destroy vital forensic evidence and scupper opportunities for justice for the mass killings of political prisoners that took place across the country

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Amnesty International Urgent Appeal Action

Amnesty warns of reprisal against Iran dissident for speaking out against 1988 massacre

Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action appeal over the case of Iranian political prisoner Maryam Akbari-Monfared who has been threatened with an additional three-year prison term and exile to a remote prison in reprisal for her open letters seeking truth and justice for her siblings who were extrajudicially executed during Iran’s 1988 massacre of

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