Letter to Honorable Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan
To: Honorable Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan
From: Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran
Subject: Meeting with President Rouhani
Date: December 10, 2019
Honorable Shinzō Abe
It has come to our attention that you will be meeting President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, in the near future. Certainly we are not in a position to ask that you refrain from this meeting but we hope you show your concern about the events happening in Iran and ask for accountability and change from the President.
As you are aware, the meeting is taking place at a time when just a few weeks ago peaceful protests were brutally crushed in Iran over the rise of fuel by three folds.
According to reports hundreds of our compatriots were killed, hundreds injured and by their own account 7000 arrested and sent to jail. To stop the flow of information abroad, they even cut Internet access to the Iranian People. By some accounts coming from Iran, security forces were ordered to shoot to kill.
In a statement released by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, she states:” Verified video footage indicates severe violence was used against protesters, including armed members of security forces shooting from the roof of a justice department building in one city, and from helicopters in another,” Bachelet said. “We have also received footage which appears to show security forces shooting unarmed demonstrators from behind while they were running away, and shooting others directly in the face and vital organs – in other words shooting to kill. These are clear violations of international norms and standards on the use of force, and serious violations of human rights.”
Mr. Abe,
The Union of Secular and Republic and Human Rights in Iran is concerned for the outcome of this meeting. Mr. Rouhani who came to power by promising reform has reneged from his promise and has shown he is no different than the hardliners in Iranian politics.
We are worried for the safety of those arrested and do not want to witness the massacre of 1988 repeated when thousands of political prisoners were executed by direct order of then leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini. As President of Iran, Mr. Rouhani is responsible for the safety of the citizens of Iran. Yet he stood side-by-side of the hardliners in condemning the peaceful protesters.
On this important week, when world is celebrating International Human Rights Day, the Iranian people are burying their dead.
It is important to note that Iran has rejected any visit by the UN Special Rapporteur Report on Human Rights in Iran.
Honorable Prime Minister,
As the head of great nation, Japan, we hope you do not allow Iranian people’s blood go in vain. Please do not trade Iranian Peoples right for freedom, democracy and human decency for any economic gains. We urge you to seek the release of all political prisoners and ask the president to allow entry to the Rapporteur to Iran.
The Iranian People are counting on you!
With Respect,
Mehdi Amini
Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran
CC: Mr. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
Japan News Media
