A Mockery of Human Rights by Niac

Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran

(MEHR IRAN )

A Mockery of Human Rights by NIAC

26 July 2007, Washington , D.C.

NIAC, a group that has never condemned the human rights violations of the Islamic Regime and is committed to the unconditional relations between the US and the Islamic Regime, is forming a panel discussion to discuss: “Human Rights in Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy Options.” The Amnesty International is among the four sponsors and the representative of both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch (HRW) will participate in the panel discussin.

Please act NOW to stop the legitimization of lobby groups by the International Human Rights Organizations.

MEHR

P.O. Box 2037, P.V.P. , CA 90274

Tel:  (310) 377-4590 ; Fax: (310) 377-3103

E-Mail: mehr@mehr.org ; URL: http://mehr.org

___________________________

Dear firends,

Four institutions have sponsored a conference organized by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) in D.C. on July 26, 2007 under the title, “Human Rights in Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy Options”.  What is greatly shocking and disturbing is that one of these four sponsors is Amnesty International and that the representatives of both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are supposed to participate in a panel discussion at this gathering.  It is shocking because NIAC is anorganization that has been lobbying for establishing the unconditional relations between the U.S. and the Islamic Regime of Iran (IR) since its inception, and has not shown any concern whatsoever about the human rights violations in Iran. We don’t need to go far to prove these claims about NIAC.

Everything that this organization does whether it is an event for youth, forming a conference, supporting the anti-war movements, dealing with Iranian/American issues or local politics, it is all directly or indirectly designed to serve one and only one purpose: Establishing relations between the United States and one of the most brutal violators of human rights, the Islamic Regime of Iran.  A careful look at the NIAC website, its public statements, public events, and its nonpartisan support of the U.S. poitical figures who share NIAC vision in dealing with the Islamic Regime, would be enough to show you what NIAC really stands for.  Not only does NIAC not deny this, but like all other lobby groups declares very proudly that it does so because of its love for Iranian people!

On the issue of human rights, we have challenged Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to find one statement issued by NIAC since its formation in condemning the Islamic Regime for violating the basic human rights of Iranians.  Not even one single sentence has been issued by NIAC in condemnation of IR for stoning, torture, execution of political prisoners, or the treatment of women and religious minorities.  If you check the NIAC website, you cannot find any reference to human rights in its mission tatement, goals, programs or anywhere else.  None of the many urgent actions issued by Amnesty International to stop imminent execution of political prisoners or stoning of men and women to death, has been distributed by NIAC.

This event is a mockery of human rights and an insult to all those who have paid dearly in Iran for standing for their rights.  We have to let AI and HRW know this and keep reminding them of their real mission in condemning human rights violations in Iran instead of promoting an organization that does not have any concern about human rights violations in Iran .

Please use the following contact information for the representatives of AI and HRW in this event and urge them not to participate in this eent.  Just one quick phone call or writing a short line or two would go a long way in voicing our outrage with NIAC and its promoters.

As an alternative, you may use the letters that have been prepared by MEHR, add your name and address at the end of the letters and send it to Amnesty and HRW. The letters are available at the following links:

http://mehr.org/Public_Letter_Amnesty.mht

http://mehr.org/Public_Letter_HRW.mht

Please note that although Ms. Alex Arriaga has been named as one of the participant in panel discussion but when we called her to verify, she indicated that Mr. Janmohamed would be representing AI in this gathering.

Thank you.

MEHR Iran

_______________________________________________________

Contact Information:

Zahir Janmohamed

Advocacy Director, Middle East and North Africa, Amnesty International USA Amnesty International

600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE , 5th Flor

Washington , D.C. 20003

Tel: (202) 544-0200 Ext: 318

Fax: (202) 546-7142

E-mail: zjanmohamed@aiusa.org

Main Office:

Tel: (212) 807-8400

Fax: (212) 627-1451

Joe Stork

Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa

Human Rights Watch

350 Fifth Ave. , 34th Floor

New York , NY 10118-3299

Tel: (212) 290-4700

Fax: (212) 736-1300

E-mail: hrwnyc@hrw.org

NIAC Announcement:

Human Rights in Iran

and US Foreign Policy Options

Thursday, 26 July 2007, 12:00noon - 2:30pm

B369 Rayburn House Office Building, US House of Representatives

 12:00 pm

REGISTRATION & LUNCH

Welcoming Remarks: Dr.Trita Parsi, President, National Iranian American Council

12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION, Q&A

Alex Arriaga

Deputy Director for Advocacy and Director of Government Relations

Amnesty International

Joe Stork

Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa

Human Rights Watch

Laura Secor

The New Yorker magazine

David Denehy (Invited)

Senior Advisor

U.S. Department of State

Dr. John Tirman

Executive Director, Center for International Studies

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Moderator          

Trita Parsi

President, National Iranian American Council