OIAC: Thousands of Iranian-Americans denounce Hassan Rouhani’s presence at the UN

Condemn flagrant human rights abuse, call for change in Iran

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Thousands of Iranians took part in a demonstration at the UN General
Assembly yesterday, denouncing the presence of Hassan Rouhani, the
Iranian regime’s president over his indifference to human rights in Iran.

The demonstrators highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation
in Iran and pointed to the execution spree during Rouhani’s two-year
tenure. There have been 2000 executions, including political dissidents,
ethnic and religious minorities.

Prior to the demonstration 101
Iranian-American professionals and scholars signed a letter to President
Obama blasting Rouhani’s administration and human rights record,
saying that human rights should be the central element of Iran policy.

Young Iranian-Americans, supporters of the National Council of
Resistance of Iran (NCRI) came to New York from more than 40 states,
chanted “no to Rouhani”, “Rouhani out of UN”, and carried pictures of
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, Paris-based president-elect of the Iranian
Resistance. They were joined by a large number of New Yorkers.

Former UN Ambassador Bill Richardson, former Homeland Security Secretary
Tom Ridge and Prof. Alan Dershowitz were among the speakers. They were
joined by faith community leaders, human rights and women’s rights
activists.

“We need to stand with the people of Iran,” Richardson said, speaking to
Iranian youth leaders at the rally outside the UN General Assembly. “We
are here to talk about three words that the Iranian regime doesn’t
understand: human rights and democracy. People are here from all across
the world to send a message that Iran needs to change.”

“Rouhani is part of a regime whose survival is ensured only through
daily executions, torture of prisoners, suppression of women and
plundering of social wealth, as well as terrorism and destruction in the
region. He is competing with the other major factions over his share of
the power,” said Mrs. Rajavi in a message to the protesters.

She added, “Rouhani is not a representative of the Iranian people. He
and his regime are murderers of the Iranian people and the main causes
of creating crises in the region.”

“During Rouhani’s tenure, protests by teachers and workers have been met
with arrests or dismissals. Lawyers, human rights defenders, bloggers,
reporters, Sunni Muslims, Christians, priests, Jews, Dervishes, Baha’is,
Kurds, Baluchis and Arabs continue to be imprisoned, while the rights
and freedoms of women and youth are trampled upon on a daily basis.”
Rajavi added in her message.

Rajavi said, “The solution to the Iranian and regional question lies in
the hands of the Iranian people who demand the overthrow of this regime
and the establishment of freedom and democracy.”

“Any act of appeasement, showing weakness and giving false hopes about
the ruling clerics abandoning their efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon
would be detrimental and constitutes a betrayal. As such, any loophole
or pathway that the deceitful regime could use to manufacture a nuclear
bomb must be closed,” she said.

Young Iranian-Americans, a number of whom had come to New York from as
far away as California had a heavy presence in the demonstration that
lasted several hours. They spoke at the rally, echoing the desire of the
youth in Iran for democracy. They chanted We Are Voices of Iran.

Organization of Iranian-American Communities (www.OIAC.org)

Contacts

Organization of Iranian-American Communities
Ben Borhani,
949-302-7073
Hamid Yazdan, 510-417-9495