For the people of Iran, particularly the people of Kurdistan, Ebrahim Raisi is a reminder of the massacre and execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. In the 1980s, he, along with four others, operated as part of the "Death Committee." Among the Iranian populace, Raisi is known as the "Butcher of Tehran" due to his brutal executions of political prisoners.

During his tenure as the head of the judiciary, there was significant repression against the Iranian people, freedom fighters, human rights activists, and the various ethnic groups residing in Iran. Under Raisi's presidency, we witnessed the violent suppression of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which led to the arrest of over 20,000 people and the killing of more than 550, including 120 children. In March, the United Nations fact-finding committee declared that during the suppression of the 2022 protests, the Islamic Republic, under Raisi's leadership, committed crimes against humanity, including imprisonment, torture, and sexual violence against protesters.

Despite knowing that Raisi committed these crimes, the United Nations plans to pay tribute to him on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

The Hana Human Rights Organization views the tribute to Raisi as legitimizing the continued violation of human rights in Iran. It believes that the officials of the Islamic Republic do not deserve recognition and respect in forums that uphold principles of justice, fairness, and conscience. Therefore, as a human rights organization in Iranian Kurdistan, we urge the United Nations to cancel the commemoration ceremony for Ebrahim Raisi and stand alongside the justice-seeking people of Iran in their pursuit of justice, peace, and freedom.

Hana Human Rights Organization
May 27, 2024