Cross-party Members of Parliament from both the UK and European countries took part in a virtual conference on Thursday, 10 September 2020, to support the global campaign to seek justice for victims of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran.
Prominent human rights lawyers, a former UN official, the UK Representative of the Iranian Resistance Movement (NCRI), European parliamentarians and dignitaries also participated in the conference, which heard testimonies from the family members of the victims of the 1988 massacre.
Speakers agreed that the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran in 1988 is an ongoing crime against humanity ordered by the highest authority in the country at the time. They also argued that the appalling human rights situation in Iran is a direct result of the failure of the international community to hold the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre to account.
The keynote speaker at this event was Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
Samy Wilson British MP joined the Online Parliamentary Conference by Cross-Party UK, European MPs and Prominent Jurists on 1988 Massacre in Iran. In his remarks, Mr. Wilson said,“ We have obligations across the world to make sure genocidal regimes are not allowed to treat their people in the way Iran has treated its people.”
Samy Wilson MP:
It is important for the UK to stand with the families in Iran who suffered from the regime. It must stand against the ongoing crimes of this regime against the people. This is well documented. But the perpetrators continue to hold high positions of power and enjoy impunity. It is important that we continue to press our government and keep up the pressure. Our government can do three things:
-Make sure this is raised at the United Nations
-Impose sanctions on the perpetrators
-Establish an independent inquiry by the international community, not the mullahs themselves
We have obligations across the world to make sure genocidal regimes are not allowed to treat their people in the way Iran has treated its people. It is important that we do not turn a blind eye to what happened.