NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – August 29, 2002
Mission for
Establishment of Human Rights in Iran
(MEHR)
P.O. Box 2037, P.V.P., CA 90274, USA
Tel: 310 - 377 - 4590, Fax: 310 - 377 -3103
URL: http://mehr.org
Contact: Dr. Nima Rasakhoo
Tel: 310-739- 4215
A CONFERENCE BY MEHR
The Massacre of Thousands of Prisoners of Conscience by the Islamic
Regime of Iran in Summer of 1988: “Crime Against Humanity”
Sunday, September 1, 2002
4:00 PM - 7:45:PM
Hilton Costa Mesa, Pacific 4 Ballroom
3050 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: (714) 540-7000
The speakers and endorsers include
Congresswoman Sanchez of California,
Dr. Michael Rubin,
Visiting Fellow at American Enterprise Institute,
Congressman Lantos of California,
Congressman Berman of California
Mrs. Katrina Swett, candidate for the US Congress
Dr. Parvin, Founding Director of MEHR.
On September 1, 2002, MEHR Iran will sponsor a conference in remembrance of
the massacre of thousands of prisoners of conscience by the Islamic Regime of
Iran (IRI) in summer of 1988. The objectives of the conference are to
unveil the crimes of IRI and to appeal to the freedom loving people of the
world to stop the Western governments from supporting the Islamic Regime.
On September 1,
2002, MEHR Iran will sponsor a conference in remembrance of the massacre
of thousands of prisoners of conscience by the Islamic Regime of Iran (IRI) in
summer of 1988. The objectives of the conference are to unveil the
crimes of IRI and to appeal to the freedom loving people of the world to stop
the Western governments from supporting the Islamic Regime.
The speakers and endorsers include Congresswomen Sanchez of
California, Dr. Rubin, Visiting Fellow at American Enterprise Institute, Congressman
Lantos of California, Congressman Berman of California, Mrs. Katrina Swett,
candidate for the US Congress and Dr. Parvin, Founding Director of MEHR.
Dr. Rubin said: “The 1988 massacre of political prisoners in
Iran was neither the first nor last example of the sheer contempt that the
Islamic Republic has shown for human rights. After 23 years of dictatorship
under Ayatollah, it is high time that the United States and Europe stand with
the Iranian people striving for freedom, pluralism, and democracy, rather than
with the government that oppresses them."
"The
best way to help the Iranian people is for the West to judge the Islamic
Republic by its record rather than its rhetoric. Unfortunately, the Islamic
Republic's human rights' track-record remains abysmal. The same officials who
enabled the 1988 prison massacre now call themselves reformists and are the
toast of European diplomats. With more than 600,000 in Iranian prisons,
freedom-loving Iranians and their friends must maintain the pressure. To do
otherwise is to ensure that history will repeat itself, with dissidents like
Ahmad Batebi paying the price." Said Rubin.
Congressman
Berman of California in a written message to MEHR stated:
“September 1 marks the 14th anniversary of the
massacres of Iranian political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Shamefully, 14 years later Iran still has a
dismal record on human rights…… The question is, what should we do about
it? What is the best way to change the
regime’s behavior? The Europeans’ answer is to pursue a policy of “constructive engagement,” sometimes
referred to as “critical dialogue. In theory, constructive engagement sounds
appealing. But in practice, I haven’t
seen any evidence to suggest that it’s had any impact on Iranian behavior…. Our
goal to isolate the regime, cut it off from the sources of capital and
technology that will allow it to devote even more resources to destructive
ends.”
“One
thing is certain”, He wrote. “For this
vision to become a reality, the Iranian people will have to play a leading
role. Once they are liberated from the oppressive regime that prevents them
from realizing their full potential, I have no doubt they will be up to the
task. The Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran is helping set the
stage to make this liberation possible by highlighting the truth the about the
current regime and its crimes, remembering the victims of these crimes, and
urging the western world to isolate and disengage from the Iranian government
while at the same time connecting with the people of Iran and their struggle.”
Congressman Lantos, in his message to the conference stated
that:” It is essential that we remember those who suffered this savagery, and
that we use this occasion to reaffirm our commitment to the struggle against
this and other gross violations of human rights by the current Iranian
government.”
Katrina
Swett, candidate for the US Congress in a message to the conference said:” I
believe all Americans join us in opposing the vicious and systematic violation
of human rights by the current anti- democratic regime in Iran. It is essential
that all of us work together and that we use all means available to see that
those officials of Islamic Republic of Iran who have violated the human rights
of Iranian people are brought to justice.”
Mohammad Parvin Said: " The struggle of the Iranian
people for freedom and democracy is facing two main obstacles: Inside Iran,
they are confronting a brutal regime that has no respect for human rights and
dignity, and outside Iran, they are facing the interest-driven governments and
individuals that are helping and legitimizing their abusers” said Parvin. “Our
message to the world community is loud and clear: If you cannot help the people
(the people, not the Islamic Regime),
please stay away. Don’t help this murderous regime. Don’t legitimize it."
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