U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR SPEAKS ON DISMAL HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION AND 1988 MASSACRE IN IRAN NCRI - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran addressed the Seventy-second session of the General Assembly in New York on October 25, to discuss the dismal situation of human rights in Iran that has been prevalent since the Regime took over in 1979.Asma Jahangir, who was addressing the General Assembly for the first time since taking the role in November 2016, delivered a report on the first six months of 2017 which was based on sources both inside and outside of Iran. Executions Jahangir explained that she was worried about the rate of executions in Iran, as well she should be. Currently, Iran has the highest execution rate per capita and is one of the few countries to still execute juvenile offenders, in clear violation of the UN’s Rights of the Child charter. She said: “I am concerned by the rate of executions in Iran. Reports indicate t...

October 10th, World Day Against the Death Penalty October 10, marks the World Day against the Death Penalty. Every day in Iran, people are executed by the state as punishment for a variety of crimes – sometimes for acts that should not be criminalized. Hundreds are hanged for non-violent drug offences. This day should involve Iranian regime who have not abolished the death penalty. Iran has the highest rate of executions per capita in the world. From August 2013 to September 2017, the total number of executions during Rouhani’s tenure has reached 3,111 cases. 81 of those executed during Rouhani’s tenure have been women. 24 were under the age of 18 at the time of their arrest. Nevertheless, the true figures are definitely higher as most executions in Iran are carried out in secret. 456 executions and counting in 2017. This includes 12 women and 4 juveniles at the time of their arrest. 238 people were executed in 2017 based on non-violent drug related charges. 2...

Blackwell Letter to Haley: U.N. Must Investigate Massacre in Iran—30,000 Dead in 1988 WASHINGTON—Former Ambassador Ken Blackwell sent a letter to current Ambassador Nikki Haley on Friday, urging the top U.S. diplomat at the United Nations to investigate horrific state-sponsored mass murders in Iran in 1988 that were finally confirmed with evidence just discovered last year. In addition to having held several elected offices and been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to other presidentially appointed offices, Blackwell served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission under President George H.W. Bush 25 years ago. He has remained active in the senior ranks of U.S. statesmen in foreign policy over the subsequent quarter-century. In his letter to the current holder of the most prestigious ambassadorship in America’s Diplomatic Corps—the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, Blackwell wrote to Haley about recently discovered evidence of “the ma...

Investigation of Argentina’s “Dirty War” Set Precedent for Inquiry into Iran’s “Summer of Blood” In the 1990s, I and my distinguished colleague Charlotte Ponticelli had the privilege of working with Dr. Clyde Snow, one of the world’s foremost experts in forensic anthropology, who played an instrumental role in bringing justice to Argentina by uncovering the mass graves left behind by the country’s “Dirty War.” His actions and investigation helped uncover the truth about what was an incredibly deadly series of crimes carried out over nearly a decade. Holding the regime in Argentina accountable set a valuable precedent and demonstrated the global community’s commitment to upholding justice and human rights, which must be maintained today. After Argentine president Isabel Perón was deposed in 1976, a military junta took over the presidency and government, establishing a dictatorship and placing all levels of government under military control. During the regime’s rule between the 1...

#Iran regime-having the highest of executions per capita-the major perpetrator in #Syrian Genocide isn't a pick4 #NobelPeacePrize . @h_urdal