Online conference marks the 38th anniversary of the 1988 massacre and examines continuing political executions in Iran.
Online conference marks the 38th anniversary of the 1988 massacre and examines continuing political executions in Iran.
September 4, 2026 — Distinguished international human rights experts participated in an online conference on accountability in Iran on September 4, marking the 38th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. The conference was organized by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI).
“Ongoing Crimes Against Humanity: Political Executions in Iran and the Duty to Act”
JVMI helped organise an online panel today with distinguished UN experts and Iran's democratic opposition to draw global attention to the wave of political executions mirroring the #1988Massacre. pic.twitter.com/rZdVrJitG4
— Justice for the Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (@jvmifoundation) September 4, 2026
International Experts Address the 1988 Massacre
The conference, titled “Ongoing Crimes Against Humanity: Political Executions in Iran and the Duty to Act,” was moderated by Dr. Hanifeh Khayyeri.
Among the speakers was Dr. Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association.
Maryam Rajavi Calls for Justice and Accountability
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, addressed the conference in a video message. She said that the movement for justice is an integral part of the Iranian people’s struggle to overthrow the clerical regime and achieve a democratic revolution. She also called for an international mechanism to bring those responsible for the 1988 massacre to justice, the use of universal jurisdiction to prosecute those responsible, and international action to end political executions and release political prisoners.
Message to the Conference Seeking Justice for Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran
As the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Prof. Javaid Rehman, courageously called for in his July 2024 report, on behalf of the Iranian Resistance, I urge all governments to take the following… pic.twitter.com/xqUiufz3FN
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) September 4, 2026
International Human Rights Experts
Ambassador Stephen Rapp, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Criminal Justice, also addressed the conference.
Professor Javaid Rehman, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, participated as a speaker.
Dr. Grażyna Baranowska, Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, also addressed the conference.
The program included a video clip on recent political executions in Iran.
International Experts
Ambassador Joachim Rücker, former President of the UN Human Rights Council, was among the international experts who spoke at the conference.
Justice Richard Goldstone, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), also addressed the gathering.
A second video clip presented the final recorded messages of political prisoners prior to their execution.
Professor Annalisa Ciampi, former UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, also spoke.
Professor Leila Sadat, former Special Adviser on Crimes Against Humanity to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, addressed the conference.
Dr. Stephanie Wolfe, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, was also among the speakers.
Geoffrey Robertson KC, Founding President of the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, participated in the conference.
Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, also addressed the event.
Professor Claudio Grossman, Special Rapporteur of the UN International Law Commission, was among the final speakers.
Ms. Elham Sajedian, daughter of a political prisoner publicly executed in Iran, gave testimony at the conference.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by the moderator.
Pres Donald Trump recently asked where are the Iranian people. This is the answer – many are dead, murdered by the Iranian regime for resisting their reign of terror. Every time. https://t.co/t8HfmfbDKe
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) September 4, 2026
Observers and Closing Remarks
Observers included representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva and New York, staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), members of the UN Special Procedures, international human rights and legal experts, NGO representatives, and members of Iranian communities across Europe.
About JVMI
Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) works to promote truth, justice, and accountability for the mass execution and enforced disappearance of thousands of political prisoners in Iran in 1988, and for ongoing crimes against humanity committed against political opponents in Iran today.
