An Iranian opposition leader, Maryam Rajavi, has blasted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for nominating whom she referred to as one of the perpetrators of the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners in Iran.
Mrs. Rajavi who is the head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the political branch of the opposition group People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MKO), also urged the UN Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to launch an international commission of inquiry to investigate the mass execution.
Rajavi, made the remarks in a statement on the anniversary of the 1988 executions.
Maryam Rajavi called on the UN Security Council to refer the dossier of the mass executions to the International Criminal Court or a special court to “prosecute the perpetrators of this crime against humanity,” the statement added.
She insisted those responsible are “criminals who are presently among the leaders of the clerical regime [of Iran].”
According to the statement, Rajavi emphasized, “How the international community approaches this crime against humanity is a litmus test of its adherence to the principles of human rights.”
Maryam Rajavi had earlier blasted Hassan Rouhani for appointing Mostafa Pourmohammadi, one of the key officials in charge of the 1988 executions. as justice minister.
"Now, in his second term, he has nominated as Minister of Justice another perpetrator of the massacre in Khuzistan Province. The European Union has already designated and sanctioned this man, Alireza Avaie, for being directly involved in violations of human rights.” Rajavi said.
Mr. Rouhani's nomination of Alireza Avayi for justice minister raised some criticism in Iran, too. Mr. Avayi was approved as the new justice minister on August 20 by the pro-Rouhani majority Iranian Parliament.
The exact number of prisoners executed in the summer of 1988 has never been revealed, but most sources estimate between 3,000 and 5,000 were killed. However, MKO maintains the number is much higher and actually amounted to 30,000.