As we wind down the highly turbulent year of 2016, a look back at Iran’s record in these 12 months is quite necessary. And rest assured there is nothing to brag about. From a human rights perspective, 2016 was the stage where Iran resorted to some of the worst atrocities from 1979 to this day. Tehran, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, increased group executions of minorities while imposing a much heavier crackdown against rights and political advocates, as reported by Human Rights Watch. Iran remains the world’s leading executioner per capita and tops the ranks in juvenile executions, according to Amnesty International.
As unveiled in a sound file of the late Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, in line to lead the regime following founder Ruhollah Khomeini, perpetrators behind the summer #1988Massacre of 30,000 political prisoners–mostly members and supporters of the opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (#PMOI/#MEK)–are currently enjoying senior regime posts in the Rouhani cabinet. This rendered increasing meddling and lethal military intervention in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and beyond, including the recent horrific scenes of Aleppo. Tehran also supported the Bashar Assad regime through intensified advisory, financial, intelligence and weapons support to notorious Shiite militias and what was left of the crumbling Assad army. One can hardly argue against the fact that Iran enjoyed eight years of appeasement from the Obama administration, providing much needed financial relief for Tehran. Despite all this, the regime also needed to continue to portray an anti-American image for its dwindling domestic base.
The international community must end its silence and inaction over Iran’s crimes inside the country and throughout the Middle East, as advocated by Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an umbrella group of numerous organizations seeking peaceful regime change in #Iran. The policies adopted in 2016 by the West, and especially Washington, provided Iran the money and opportunity to pursue its domestic and foreign policies. The international community should take the opportunity of a new U.S. administration in 2017 to launch a new and principled approach vis-à-vis Iran.
This will pave the path to resolve humanitarian and political crises engulfing the Middle East, bring an end to Iran’s meddling and support the Iranian people.
Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/313133-iran-in-2016-exploiting-obamas-appeasement-policy
Kia is a political analyst and member of the Iranian opposition, the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI, also known as MEK). He graduated from North Texas University.
NCRI-“” Pol prisoner of 1980s,& father of 2 / members was abducted by unknown ppl in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. This
morning in an unusual and unprecedented way Ali Moezi, the political prisoner,
was called to the clinic of the prison. After he met his family at 10:00 am and
while he was returning to his cell, he was abducted by unknown people and it is not clear
where he is now, and how is his condition. The mullah’s regime is
responsible for the condition of this political prisoner and must be held
totally accountable. The National Council of Resistance of Iran call for support him.
This will pave the path to resolve humanitarian and political crises engulfing the Middle East, bring an end to Iran’s meddling and support the Iranian people.
