On August 24, Paris hosted an international conference sponsored by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI), spotlighting the 1988 Iran prison massacre. This event, titled “Accountability for Atrocity Crimes,” convened legal experts, human rights activists, survivors, and global observers. The assembly called for justice for the thousands of Iranian political prisoners, primarily members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK/PMOI) opposition group, who were systematically executed following Ayatollah Khomeini’s orders.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized the ongoing struggles and hunger strikes by political prisoners in Iran and advocated for the “No to the Death Penalty” campaign. Her address can be further explored here.
The conference featured esteemed speakers like Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prof. Leila Nadya Sadat, an authority on crimes against humanity, and Prof. William A. Schabas, an expert in genocide studies. In addition to these contributions, Kenneth Lewis and Prof. Javaid Rehman provided significant analyses on Iran’s current human rights situation, with Prof. Rehman presenting detailed reports on past and ongoing atrocity crimes.
Prof. Steven Schneebaum of Johns Hopkins University criticized Iran’s manipulation of international systems to target MEK supporters abroad, describing it as a misuse of legal principles. Dr. Mark Ellis of the International Bar Association and Clément N. Voule, UN Special Rapporteur, among others, supported calls for an international framework to investigate these crimes.
The broader context of Iran’s suppression of freedoms, particularly the evolving “Woman, Resistance, Freedom” movement, was also discussed, emphasizing continued global support for Iranian women and girls fighting against oppression.
The conference concluded with several specific calls to action:
- Intensifying efforts to raise awareness and apply international pressure against executions in Iran.
- Engaging in the “No to the Death Penalty” campaign to address its use as a tool of repression.
- Establishing an international investigative and accountability mechanism for thorough investigations into the Iranian regime’s crimes.
- Encouraging individual states to exercise universal jurisdiction and initiate criminal investigations.
- Supporting the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.
For a comprehensive account of the Paris conference and its implications, visit the full article here.