Swiss Exhibitions Honor the Victims of Iran’s 1988 Massacre

Across Switzerland this past August—from the historic streets of Bern to the community hubs in Effretikon, and beyond—members of the Iranian diaspora, local residents, and human rights advocates gathered around a shared cause: to ensure that the voices of the innocent are never silenced by history.

Through a series of poignant open-air photo exhibitions and memorial displays, organizers brought a dark chapter of history into the light, honoring the victims of the 1988 massacre in Iran, in which more than 30,000 political prisoners were systematically executed in a matter of weeks.

A Powerful Display of Human Connection

Walking through the exhibitions in cities like Bern and Effretikon, passersby were met with hundreds of faces staring back from rows of portraits—young women, university students, union leaders, and idealists whose lives were cut short simply because they dared to envision a free society.

The atmosphere at each display was one of solemn reflection and warm human connection. Volunteers stood in the late summer weather to speak with locals, answer questions, and share personal stories of family members lost to political repression. Many Swiss citizens stopped to lay flowers, sign petitions, and stand in silent solidarity alongside the organizers. For many visitors, seeing the individual faces and personal stories transformed an abstract historical event into a deeply felt human tragedy.

Understanding the 1988 Massacre: A Secret Crime Against Humanity

To understand the profound resonance of these exhibitions, one must look back to the summer of 1988. As the Iran-Iraq War drew to a close, a secret fatwa (decree) was issued by the supreme ruler of the regime targeting political dissidents held in prisons across the country.

In what human rights organizations, legal experts, and international bodies now recognize as one of the worst crimes against humanity of the late 20th century, thousands of prisoners were subjected to minutes-long trials by secretive “Death Commissions.” These tribunals did not evaluate evidence or offer legal representation; instead, they asked prisoners about their political beliefs and allegiance to opposition groups.

Anyone who refused to recant their beliefs was sentenced to death. Over the course of just a few months, an estimated 30,000 political prisoners—most of whom were already serving existing prison sentences—were executed and buried in unmarked mass graves across Iran, such as the Khavaran cemetery. Families were denied the right to mourn, and to this day, many have never been officially informed of where their loved ones are buried.

From Historical Memory to Present Action

The exhibitions held in August were not only focused on remembering the past, but also on addressing the reality of the present. Organizers stressed that the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre laid the groundwork for decades of ongoing human rights abuses and the alarming rate of executions taking place in Iran today.

By hosting these displays in public spaces across Bern, Effretikon, and other Swiss cities, the organizers sought to accomplish several key goals:

• Restoring Dignity to the Victims: By showcasing personal stories, photographs, and artwork, the exhibitions restored humanity and identity to those whom the regime attempted to erase from history.
• Building Awareness Among the Swiss Public: Engaging directly with local communities raised awareness about the history of resistance and the ongoing struggle for democratic freedom in Iran.
• Calling for International Accountability: The displays urged international bodies and European governments to end diplomatic silence, investigate the crimes of 1988, and bring responsible officials before international courts.

The Power of Remembrances

“Memory is our greatest weapon against injustice,” noted one of the local organizers during the Bern display. “When a dictatorship tries to destroy the truth, carrying that truth into public squares across Europe keeps the hope for freedom alive.”

The overwhelming support from local communities in Switzerland demonstrated that human rights and the pursuit of justice transcend borders. As the exhibitions drew to a close at the end of August, the message left behind in Bern, Effretikon, and across the nation was clear: the victims of 1988 will never be forgotten, and the commitment to a free and democratic future remains unshakeable.