Open letter to rights organisations and personalities
Re: the Presence of Rights Violators of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the UN Human Rights Council
The presence of Judge Saeed Mortazavi, the Tehran chief prosecutor, along with Jamal Karimirad, the regime’s judiciary
spokesperson in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s delegation to the first meeting of the UN Human Rights Council has
created shock waves among Iranians in Iran and abroad. Mortazavi is one of the regime’s important pillars of repression.
Many of the execution, killing and stoning orders have come directly from him.
Examples are innumerable. The torture and murder of the Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi in an Iranian prison was under
his direct supervision.
He has ordered the arrest and flogging of hundreds of young girls and boys for improper veiling or conduct.
He has overseen the status of many political prisoners, including those of the Tehran bus workers and students.
Many of the authorized press have been closed down as a result of his direct orders.
He is one of the first officials of the Islamic regime of Iran who must in fact be tried for violations of human rights
rather than participate in a human rights meeting.
We and the people of Iran condemn the UN Human Rights Council for allowing the presence of these criminals, and
unequivocally demand the following:
1. Judge Mortazavi and Jamal Karimirad must be arrested and prosecuted for their crimes against the people of Iran.
2. The Islamic republic of Iran must be expelled from international forums.
We call on all rights defenders to oppose this act of indifference and contempt towards the Iranian people by the UN
Human Rights Council and defend our legitimate demands.
Asqar Karimi
On behalf of the Worker-communist Party of Iran