Iran's Human Rights Record Deserves Immediate Attention

Last week, the nuclear dossier of Iran's theocraticThe mullahs have in the past resorted to mass
regime was officially brought before the Unitedexecutions in order to keep their grip on power and
Nations Security Council and a Presidential Statementcontrol the public. In 1988, after the ceasefire in the
was released calling on Tehran to abandon its allIran-Iraq war, no less than 30,000 political prisoners
enrichment-related activity.were massacred in Iran in a matter of few months
Although the statement was watered down tofollowing a fatwa by Khomeini.
accommodate Russia and China, it is important toThe execution of a member of the People's
realize the significance of the first step taken by theMojahedin, the main Iranian opposition movement, Mr.
Security Council.Hojjat Zamani, on February 7 and the threats to
No matter what Iran may do now and how long weexecute another political prisoner by the name of
may be away before sanctions are imposed, theValiollah Feiz-Mahdavi on May 16, revives the
referral in and of itself is a major step in dealing withmemories of that massacre.
the mullahs. The regime's reaction, ludicrousTo prevent this disaster from happening again, the
statements and the hollow show of force is indicativeUnited Nations Security Council should address Iran's
of the seriousness of the Security Council referral.Human Rights violations in parallel with its nuclear
What we must not forget and should surely pressrecord and assign a special envoy to investigate the
for, is the fact that the situation of human rights indreadful plight of prisoners in Iran, especially the
Iran also merits a great deal of action and requirespolitical prisoners.
swift international action.