In our previous pieces, we learned that no one has ever been prosecuted for the massacre, which was solely intended to eliminate the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI, Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK); something proven more so by the arrest and execution of former MEK prisoners. Now, we will look at the West’s silence and how this has given impunity to the regime through the failed appeasement policy.
Maryam Rajavi said: “In outlining these incidents, I would like to recall that the Iranian Resistance actively engaged in the exposure of the 1988 massacre on the international level since the very first weeks, urging reaction by the world and especially western governments. However, they maintained their silence because they had just initiated their policy of appeasement. One of the most harmful consequences of the policy of appeasement was providing impunity to the ruling murderers, whose crimes started in the early 1980s, reached new heights during the 1988 massacre and have continued to this day.”
UN Must Hold #Iran Regime Accountable for 1988 Massacre, Other Human Rights Abuses – Amnesty International https://t.co/bwA9OKzB8v#1988Massacre #NoImpunity4Mullahs
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 7, 2019
She continued by saying that this impunity allowed the clerical regime’s leaders to deny this crime using an organized plan, just as they had carried out the massacre in the first place. She noted that the regime has taken various measures all traces of the mass graves of MEK members, including constructing new buildings and roads on sites or bulldozing them. The Regime then arrested or tortured families who wanted to find the graves of their loved ones.
The Iranian Resistance and others have published a considerable amount of information about the destruction, even pictures, and images, but still, the world has remained silent.
Maryam Rajavi said: “The regime ruling Iran has evaded publishing the information and details of the massacre of political prisoners but has remained immune from international accountability.”
She noted that alongside destroying the mass graves and refusing to tell families the locations of their loved ones’ bodies, the regime has placed those who sat on the Death Committees into positions of power because the officials have remained immune from accountability. This includes the head of the Judiciary, the Head of the Supreme Court and the so-called Justice Minister.
Maryam Rajavi said: “A number of them, including the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei, defend the 1988 massacre. They even say that they are proud of it. And still, they enjoy impunity.”
Amnesty International said last December that, as a direct result of this impunity crisis, regime officials continue to commit crimes against their people and others with the belief that they will get away with it.
Maryam Rajavi said: “Granting impunity to the regime’s leaders and turning a blind eye to their crimes are the very reason they have become emboldened in exporting terrorism and in warmongering.”
In our next piece, we will look further into why it is time to end this impunity.
