Shabnam Assadollahi

UN Must Firmly Reject Raisi Memorial, Condemn Tyranny

The United Nations faces a pivotal moral challenge: it must categorically denounce the proposal for a memorial honoring Ebrahim Raisi, infamously known as the “Judge of Death” in Iran under the Islamic Republic.

Raisi’s name is synonymous with oppression, his reign marred by the bloodshed of countless innocents. From his role in the notorious “Death Commission” to his presidency marked by ruthless suppression since August 2021, his legacy epitomizes terror inflicted upon women, minorities, and dissenters.

Since assuming the position of Deputy Prosecutor in Karaj Revolutionary Court in 1980, Raisi’s tenure has been characterized by crime and brutality. Within a year, the hopeful slogan of the “revolution of women, life, freedom” was silenced, as over 500 individuals, including 76 children, fell victim to protests, with many youth deliberately targeted. His presidency witnessed the execution of over 800 individuals in 2023 and 86 in January 2024 alone.

To ignore Raisi’s atrocities is to disregard the suffering of his victims and betray the very principles the UN claims to uphold. The global community must unite in condemning tyranny and defending justice.

Endorsing a memorial for Raisi would legitimize barbarity and send a dangerous message to despots worldwide, endorsing a culture of impunity and undermining human rights.

Now is the time for the United Nations to demonstrate unwavering moral courage. Cancelling the proposed memorial is not only a gesture of respect for Raisi’s victims but a bold declaration against tyranny.

Furthermore, nations and international bodies must swiftly hold Raisi accountable for his crimes, imposing diplomatic isolation and stringent sanctions until justice is served.

The world is watching, and history will judge the UN based on its response. Let us heed the wisdom of Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The United Nations must act decisively in pursuit of justice, defending humanity and securing our collective future.

The proposed memorial honoring Ebrahim Raisi is not just an oversight; it’s a grave insult to his countless victims. Iranians will never forget this affront by the UN. The United Nations must heed the outcry of those who have suffered under Raisi’s tyranny and demonstrate unwavering moral courage by cancelling the event. Failure to do so would betray justice and human rights principles, perpetuating impunity for despots worldwide.The UN is shamelessly mocking Iranians of past, present, and future generations! It’s appalling that the United Nations would even consider honoring someone with such a brutal track record. History will judge the UN’s response to this moral test, and it’s imperative that it chooses the path of justice and accountability.

About the Author
Shabnam Assadollahi is a human rights advocate, freelance journalist and educator. As a teenager, she was imprisoned for eighteen months in Evin Prison for her activisim against the Islamic Republic. She later became a recognized voice on Canadian radio, hosting Radio Hamseda, Ottawa for eight years, where she amplified education, culture, and resistance to oppression. Her advocacy contributed directly to the closure of the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Canada in 2012—an important blow to the regime’s transnational repression network. She is the recipient of multiple human rights and women’s rights awards for her sustained efforts to expose abuses inside Iran and beyond its borders. Shabnam’s primary and heartfelt interest is to focus on the Iranian community and world events affecting women and minority communities.
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