Thread by @iran_policy

Iran's regime executed some 30,000 political prisoners in the #1988Massaacre. We'll be live tweeting a panel in about 15 mins that will urge the world community to hold the perpetrators accountable.

#FreeIran #WeSupportMEK

In the summer of 1988, Iran's regime summarily and extra-judicially executed tens of thousands of political prisoners held in jails across Iran. The #1988Massacre was carried out on the basis of a fatwa by the regime’s Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini.
#FreeIran #WeSupportMEK

Death Commissions sent 30000 political prisoners to the gallows. The vast majority of the victims were PMOI (MEK) members. Perpetrators of Iran's #1988Massacre have never been held accountable. Worse still, some have been promoted to top government & judiciary positions #FreeIran

#1988Massacre The facts:
• 30000+ political prisoners were killed in Iran
• The 1988 massacre was based on a fatwa by Khomeini
• Most victims were activists of the PMOI (MEK)
• Death Committees approved the verdicts
• Perpetrators have never been brought to justice
#FreeIran

After Maryam Rajavi urges the international community to end the impunity of Iranian regime officials for their crimes against humanity, NCRI member & former political prisoner in Iran @BehzadNaziri welcomes today's panel to discuss the #1988Massacre. #FreeIran #WeSupportMEK

Renowned Spanish jurist Juan Garcés: “In the case of the #1988Massacre, this is a crime against humanity. Not only had the criminal code of Iran been violated, but also the known international norms were trampled during & before this crime.”

#FreeIran #WeSupportMEK

Renowned Spanish jurist Juan Garcés: “Iran's Gov is not qualified to carry out an investigation into the #1988Massacre. There are other instruments inc. the @IntlCrimCourt & courts of justice in other countries. The UN Security Council is qualified to set up a tribunal” #FreeIran

Renowned Spanish jurist Juan Garcés: "Many facts show that Iran's #1988Massacre is a crime that has continued to this day, meaning the @IntlCrimCourt, which was founded after this crime began, is qualified to tend to this case." #FreeIran

.@BoumedraTahar: “Within the framework of an association of international lawyers founded in London, @jvmifoundation, we’re gathering evidence to prosecute the perpetrators of the #1988Massacre of political prisoners in Iran.” #FreeIran

.@BoumedraTahar: “We applied the fact-finding criteria of UN missions. We only put down evidence that's beyond doubt. We ended up identifying 70 suspect perpetrators who're beyond doubt involved in Iran’s #1988Massacre. The documents are available. We made it available to the UN”

.@BoumedraTahar: “We have identified these perpetrators. International lawyers, such as Geoffrey Robertson, have qualified Iran’s #1988Massacre not only as a crime against humanity but also possibly a genocide.” #FreeIran

.@BoumedraTahar: "Among other evidence we gathered of Iran’s #1988Massacre, published separately by the JVMI, is the location of the mass graves. These locations are very well identified. Anyone who challenges these docs, we invite them to go to the sites & verify for themselves"

.@BoumedraTahar: “We've identified the facts, the crimes, the perpetrators & victims of Iran's #1988Massacre. We've identified 120 countries that could entertain the judicial process of crimes against humanity, crimes of war & genocide. We’re not dreaming. The situation changes.”

Iran #1988Massacre witness Kobra Jokar: “In prison, there was no doctor or medication for the children. In the public ward, there was only 15 minutes of warm water per day, which we had to use to give the children a bath. Many of these children had lost their parents.” #FreeIran

Iran #1988Massacre witness Hengameh Haj Hassan: “We were blindfolded & put in cages, small partitions where you could only squat. You couldn’t move. If we moved, we were tortured. My eyesight was degraded & my back was injured. Despite 5 operations I've still not recovered.”

Iran #1988Massacre witness Homa Jaberi: “After 40 days I was taken to Evin Prison. Some of my friends had lost their mental balance. Some prisoners would not speak of the tortures they suffered. The torturers had made them make animal noises & insult themselves. Some were raped.”

Jordanian MP Abed Al Masiri: "The MEK is not just a name. You are a cause. A great message. I see MEK men & women who have put aside everything in their lives for others. This is something I’d never seen in my life. You are freedom-lovers. Iran's dictatorship will fall" #FreeIran

Iran #1988Massacre witnesses Majid Sahebjam: “I spent 17 years in prison. My 'crime' was supporting the MEK. The 1988 massacre was a premeditated and well-planned crime. Some of the people who were directly involved in this crime still hold high positions of power.” #FreeIran

Iran #1988Massacre survivor Mostafa Naderi “After 8 months of torture, 6 of us were taken to a mullah who said we'd be executed that night. They lined us up, tied our hands & we heard the guns being loaded. They fired but it was a mock execution. It was a traumatic experience.”

#1988Massacre witness Mahmoud Royaie: “Iran's regime even executed the disabled & handicapped. Yet these prisoners stood tall when they went to the gallows. 1 of my friends had lost his mental balance from torture. But he defied the judge & said ‘I'm a Mojahed.’ He was executed.”

Ex Algerian Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali: “Today the victims of Iran’s #1988Massacre themselves speak to us. We can no longer be observers, albeit sympathetic. We must be responsible. When we become witnesses, the law of men forbids us from remaining silent & doing nothing.”

.@bobtorricelli: “I have never witnessed anything like what I heard today about Iran's #1988Massacre. It's difficult to find any reason in anything we have heard. I’m from a different faith & nationality, but I’ve committed myself to your struggle for a #FreeIran.” #WeSupportMEK

Fereshteh Akhlaghi, researcher of Iran's #1988Massacre: “This exhibition is only the tip of the iceberg. In 2 yrs the regime executed 477 minors including three 12-year-olds. 8 were 13 years old. 19 were 14 years old. 32 were 15 years old. Others were 16 & 17 years old” #FreeIran

.@spud_au, co-Secretary of Australian Supporters of Democracy in Iran: "We are calling on our states to speak out for justice. We are calling on the Australian government to condemn this crime against humanity & pursue justice over Iran's #1988Massacre." #FreeIran #WeSupportMEK