May 21, 2024
President Joseph Biden
The Honorable Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
It is with utmost sadness and disappointment that we write to you following the issuance of condolences to Iranian officials after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Secretary Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of the Islamic Republic in Iran (IRI). These individuals were leaders in a regime that systematically violates the human rights of the Iranian people. Ebrahim Raisi, in particular, was responsible for the deaths of countless political dissidents imprisoned by the regime.
Your message of condolence is in direct violation of the “MAHSA Act” (H.R. 589). This law holds the Supreme Leader and President Raisi accountable for egregious human rights violations against the Iranian people. Based on this legislation, we argue that no American official should express solidarity with any member of the Islamic regime under any circumstances.
Following the end of the Iraq-Iran war, there was a secret order from IRI’s founding leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, to purge political prisoners in prisons across the country. Raisi led this initiative in Tehran, serving on what is infamously known as the “Council of Death.” His signature authorized numerous executions of political dissidents who had already been prosecuted and imprisoned by the Revolutionary Court without a jury. In a matter of days, an estimated 5,000 prisoners were executed in Tehran alone.
A mass graveyard in Tehran, known as Khavaran, became the burial site for many of these victims. Families discovered this site and, with their bare hands, unearthed bodies that had been hastily buried. Subsequently, security forces barricaded the area to prevent further discoveries. Raisi played an active role in this horrifying chapter of Iran’s history.
By sending condolences to IRI’s public figures, you effectively dishonor the Iranian people, who are the primary victims of this brutal regime that has oppressed them for over four decades.
We strongly object to this action of the US government. It is imperative to stand on the right side of history and support the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom and human rights.
Sincerely,
Dr. Iman Foroutan
Chairman of the Board and Executive Director
The New Iran
