An open letter by Mothers of Park Laleh (Irans Mourning Mothers) to the human rights organisations!

Where do those who had been murdered in the past 33 years and the harassment of  their mourning mothers and their supporters stand in Dr Ahmed Shahid’s first report to UN Human Rights Council UN?

In the autumn afternoon of last Saturday, to the surprise of many onlookers, Mourning Mothers of Park Laleh appeared in the park, not in black dress as usual but in colourful costumes and walked round the pool to show their determination and enthusiasm for struggle until their demands are met.

Mothers of Park Laleh ( Mourning Mothers of Iran) issued a statement in which they once again reiterated their determination to pursue:

 1-      End to death penalty and the killing of humans in any form and for any reason.

2-      Release of all political and ideological prisoners from Iran’s prisons.

3-      Fair and public trial of those who had committed crimes in the Islamic republic in the past 33 years. 

We, Mothers of Park Laleh condemn:

1-      Those who had executed prisoners en-masse or individually,

2-       Those who had murdered and assassinated ethnic, religious and ideological individuals and groups of minorities

3-      Those who had carried out attacks on students dormitories, work places and homes and kidnapped, killed, harassed and detained people.

4-      Torture for confessions, rape, stoning and retribution (Ghesas) are crimes and we struggle to eliminate such practices.

5-      We, Mothers of Park Laleh have gathered in the Park to tell the world that we still exist and peruse our demands.

Mothers of Park Laleh had waited patiently for months to see the first report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Dr Shahid. We welcomed the fact that the report contained abuse of human rights of many people but noted with much regret that there were grave shortcomings as well. There were no mentions of the murder of many innocent people in the past two years.

Dr Shahid had emphasised that he aimed to produce a just, accurate and objective report.  Is it just not to mention the people who have been murdered or committed suicide, or detained and tortured or those who had been raped? Is it just not to mention that mothers of murdered children are not allowed to commemorate their loved ones? Is it just not to mention those who have supported the Mourning Mothers and are now detained and persecuted and two of the mothers themselves have been sentenced to 4 years term for seeking justice?

Dr Shahid had also announced that only through dialogue with the Islamic Republic authorities he would be able to report on the accurate accounts. We ask him: how many times had the Iranian authorities replied to and accepted responsibility for the abuse of human rights in the past?

We emphasise that the Islamic Republic’s account of abuse of human rights can only be valid on the condition that other people can have the right to speak freely and defend their rights and beliefs as well.

Considering recent developments in the region and the wave of movements for democracy which was inspired by the movement in Iran, Mothers of Park Laleh expected that Dr Shahid plays a more positive role and cross the red lines.

Mothers of Park Laleh expected a mention of the mass murders of 1988 and demand of families for justice in the report.

Mothers of Park Laleh expected and hoped Dr Shahid would mention the extensive abuse of human rights in the past 33 years, especially pressures on the families of the murdered and the imprisoned.

We, Mothers of Park Laleh expect to see our voices reflected in the next report of the Special Rapporteur, especially the grave abuse of human rights in the past which had been mentioned in the previous reports of UN Special Rapporteurs including Mr Galindepaul.

Mothers of Park Laleh (Mourning Mothers of Iran)

20 October 2011