On July 31, 2025, a significant international conference on human rights in Iran took place in Rome. The event brought together parliamentarians, diplomats, politicians, human rights activists, and experts to express their support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.
Italian Senator and former Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi described the 1988 massacre as “one of the darkest chapters in the history of Iran and humanity,” where at least 30,000 political prisoners were executed in a single month. He stressed, “It is high time for justice. The regime’s violence against its own people knows no bounds.”
Former Belgian Prime Minister and former President of the European Council Charles Michel paid tribute to the Iranian human rights activists: “Your courage, your energy, and your resilience inspire us all. We stand with you for freedom of belief and equality: for a free Iran!”
Former UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly honored the Iranian youth: “I admire the young women and men in Iran who demand nothing more than what is taken for granted elsewhere: freedom of expression, respect, and equal rights.”
Former U.S. Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp emphasized: “We must gather evidence and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. The world must not repeat the silence of 1988.”
The conference concluded with an exhibition in memory of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran.
The central message of the conference was clear: freedom in Iran is not a dream—it is becoming a reality. The world must stand with the Iranian people.
Prof. Rehman’s urgent call to action
In a video message to the conference, former UN Special Rapporteur Professor Javied Rehman highlighted the dire situation of political prisoners in Iran.
“Tragically, numerous political prisoners in Iran are on death row, facing imminent execution. They are also being forcibly transferred to other prisons and are increasingly subjected to torture and extremely inhumane detention conditions,” he stated. “Alongside the increasing executions, tortures, and repression, the brutal state apparatus and its agents are aggressively threatening to repeat the atrocities that the same regime committed during the 1988 massacre.”
Professor Rehman underscored the urgency of the situation, reiterating the call from his 2024 report. “I called on the international community to establish an international investigative and accountability mechanism to ensure swift, thorough, and transparent criminal investigations in connection with these crimes against humanity. This is now more important and urgent than ever. The international community failed to act in 1988. This must not happen again. The responsibility to prevent a repeat of these atrocities lies with the United Nations and its member states.”
Take action: stand with the Iranian people
The voices of these global leaders echo the urgent need for a unified international response. The struggle of the Iranian people for freedom and justice continues, and they need our support.
Join Verein Welle in our mission to amplify these calls for accountability and raise global awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in Iran. Your support can help ensure that the world does not remain silent and that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice.
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