Over 100 members of European Parliament call on EU to recognize 1988 massacre in Iran as genocide
December 7, 2021, 4:22 pm

Over 100 members of European Parliament call on EU to recognize 1988 massacre in Iran as genocide

Flag of Iran-Qom city/Pixabay

On the eve of World Human Rights Day, over 100 MEPs, including 14 former ministers, call on EU and member states to recognize the 1988 massacre in Iran as genocide and a crime against humanity - Adopt a firm policy in the nuclear negotiations.

In a statement addressed to EU leaders, including Mr. Josep Borrell, Vice President/High Representative of the Union for Foreign affairs and Security Policy, over 100 members of the European Parliament, called on the Union and its member states to recognize the "1988 massacre in Iran as genocide and a crime against humanity."

The MEPs from various political groups, which include two presidents and six vice- presidents of parliamentary groups, a former prime minister and a former head of state, two deputy prime ministers and 14 former European ministers, including the foreign and defense ministers of Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Two presidents and eight vice presidents of European Parliament committees and five presidents of parliamentary delegations were among the signatories.

Iran-Qom city/Pixabay

The statement, initiated by the European Parliament's "Friends of Free Iran" group, urged the EU and its member states to adopt a firm policy, especially in the nuclear talks with Iran and "to make the respect for human rights and abolition of death penalty a precondition in its relations with the Iranian regime.”

In the summer of 1988, Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, issued a fatwa ordering the execution of political prisoners, particularly those affiliated with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran Organization (PMOI/MEK), who remained steadfast in defending democracy and freedom. Within weeks, nearly 30,000 political prisoners, 90 percent affiliated with the MEK, were massacred after sham trials that lasted a few minutes.

Many of the most prominent international jurists have described the 1988 massacre as a manifest case of a crime against humanity and genocide and have called for justice and to start judicial proceedings against the perpetrators of this crime.

In the statement, the MEPs condemned the immunity enjoyed by the ruling theocracy’s officials in Iran over the years. They underscored “The incumbent president, Ebrahim Raisi was a member of the so-called ’Death Commission‘ in the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members and supporters of the PMOI/MEK, the democratic opposition to the regime. During his tenure as the Judiciary Chief, over 12,000 protesters were arrested in the November 2019 uprising and under his supervision, prisoners were subject to torture and many disappeared while in custody.

While only four months have passed since his presidency, 150 prisoners have been executed in order to intimidate and terrify the Iranian people and prevent another nationwide uprising, like the one in November 2019.”

The MEPs, 18 of whom are members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that the Iranian regime's crimes and destructive behavior were not limited to its borders, and that "The flip side to the brutal suppression of human rights in Iran is its efforts to acquire the nuclear bomb, its long-range ballistic missiles production and expansion of terrorism, and warmongering in the region.”

The MEPs stressed “The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has issued a damning report on the grave human rights violations that have occurred in Iran in which he expresses his concern over impunity from past violations such as the 1988 massacre. The UN Secretary-General has accused the Iranian regime of “destroying evidence of the execution of political dissidents at that time (1988) and the harassment and criminal prosecution of families of victims calling for truth and accountability.”

Recently, the highest federal court in Switzerland ordered the federal prosecutor to investigate the assassination of Kazem Rajavi in Geneva in 1990 by the mullahs’ regime under the title of crime against humanity and genocide. Dr. Rajavi was the representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Switzerland and a former ambassador.”

One of the mullahs' regime officials, Hamid Noury, who was the deputy prosecutor in Gohardasht prison at the time of the 1988 massacre and was directly involved in the massacre of political prisoners, has been on trial in Sweden since August 2021.

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Eastern Europe at Boiling Point Foreign MPs bring worldwide attention to the devastating human rights situation in Iran

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.