Iranian dissidents, democracy advocates, social activists, international dignitaries, representatives from the British and European parliaments along with more than 300 Iranian opposition groups, plan to march on Paris on June 27th, to protest against the lack of freedoms in Iran under the country’s religious extremist regime.
While last year’s demonstrations received support from more than 100,000 protesters across Europe, this year, there is likely to be a larger coalition that will condemn Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s failed human rights record and his government’s continual defiance of international efforts to liberate Iranians.
Western governments have criticized Rouhani’s human rights records since he began office in 2013 with the U.S. State Department’s 2013 Human Rights Report stating, the Iranian government regularly manipulates elections, restricts civil liberties and negates health and safety provisions of prisoners. The report also states that abuses in the country include corporal punishments, court-ordered amputations, denial of due process and fair trials, politically motivated violence, impunity of security forces, discrimination and violence against members of the LGBT community apart from severe restrictions on freedoms of religion, speech and assembly.
The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center released a report in 2013 stating the government had executed 624 prisoners without due process, 46 percent of which were unreported by Iranian authorities. Most of these executions took place after Rouhani began office in August 2013, a fact that drew worldwide attention and criticism.
Offences for which one can be sentenced to death in Iran include apostasy, drug trafficking, adultery, atheism, homosexuality and blasphemy. Lord Carlile of Berriew, leader of the Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom in Britain, has referred to Rouhani’s presidency as “a devastating period of brutality.”
A new issue to be added to march on Paris this year is a campaign against the restriction of internet and social media in Iran. With strong support from western governments, wide publicity across social media and increased backing from human rights groups, Iranian dissidents who will march on Paris on June 27th, hope to spread awareness about the various abuses of human rights under Rouhani’s governance and resolve for a permanent change that will liberate the people of an oppressed nation.
Photo Credit: Mostafa Saeednejad
