In a significant parliamentary session, UK legislators and senior representatives from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords called for accountability for the Iranian regime’s leaders, accusing them of crimes against humanity.

The session, titled “In Search of Justice for the Victims of Crimes Against Humanity in Iran,” organized by the Iranian Women’s Society in the UK, saw the participation of Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran, and prominent legal figures like Jeffrey Robertson, Queen’s Counsel in the UK and a former judge of the United Nations.

The conference brought together various stakeholders, including UK political figures, legal experts, eyewitnesses to the 1988 massacre, and representatives of Iranian communities. MP Alex Sobel, who chaired the initial part of the session, highlighted the valuable contributions of Professor Rehman, especially his reports to the United Nations on human rights violations by the Iranian regime.

Professor Rehman, in his address, expressed grave concerns about the Iranian regime’s culture of impunity and lack of accountability. He specifically mentioned the 1988 massacres, calling for accountability for human rights violations as a core obligation for states. He criticized the concentration of power under the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the 1988 enforced disappearances and executions. He urged the international community to hold Iranian state officials accountable for these atrocities.

Mr. Geoffrey Robertson, QC, and a former President of the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, reflected on his investigation into the 1988 massacre in Iran. He criticized the former UN Special Rapporteur Reynaldo Galindo Pohl for being influenced by the Iranian regime and stressed the need for universal jurisdiction to try those responsible for these crimes.

Baroness Helena Kennedy, Joint Head of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association and a member of the House of Lords, spoke about her imprisoned friends executed in the 1988 massacre. She called for action against the regime’s leaders and stressed the need to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity in the UK.

Lord David Alton and Dr. Liam Fox, prominent UK political figures, supported the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Dr. Fox criticized the UK’s soft approach towards Tehran and urged stronger action against the Iranian regime.

Jim Shannon, a representative from the Democratic Unionist Party, and Mrs. Joanna Cherry, a member of the Scottish National Party, echoed the need for accountability and support for the UN Special Rapporteur’s efforts.

Mrs. Lauren Lederle, representing Cherie Blair, wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, called for recognition of the 1988 massacre as a crime against humanity and urged concrete action.

Leila Jazayeri, leader of the Iranian Women’s Association in the UK, and Ahmad Ebrahimi, a witness to the 1988 massacre, highlighted the importance of international recognition and accountability for the regime’s crimes. Ebrahimi’s testimony at the Stockholm trial of Hamid Nouri, a perpetrator of the 1988 massacre, was particularly emphasized.

Reza Fallahi and Mohsen Zadshir, survivors of the 1988 massacre, also attended the conference, underscoring the ongoing efforts to bring the Iranian regime’s crimes to light. Their participation and testimonies served as powerful reminders of the atrocities committed and the imperative for justice.

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