Boroujerdi's Open Letter to the UN Human Rights Council

Tehran, 27th September 2010— In an appeal addressed to the President and Members of the UN Human Rights Council, the dissident Iranian cleric Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi has called on the United Nations and its relevant organs “to investigate the abuses taking place in Iran and the Middle East as a consequence of intervention of religion into politics thus paving the way for the passage of a resolution supporting the separation of state from religion.”

In the appeal which was read at the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the 23rd September, by the Iranian journalist Nazenin Ansari, Mr. Boroujerdi called on the international community “to ensure that the regime in Tehran accepts a free and fair referendum carried out under the supervision of international monitors so that the people of Iran can once again become masters of their own destiny.”

A summary of Mr. Boroujerdi’s activities prior to his arrest in 2006 and torturous conditions under which he has been held in the notorious Evin prison preceded the address. A copy of the appeal has been sent to Ms Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Your Excellencies, President and Members of the UN Human Rights Council,

Please accept my greetings to you all from inside the torturous and inhuman prison of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

As you are well aware, throughout history the interference of religion in state matters has been instrumental in promoting ideological and religious conflicts, the rise of totalitarian regimes as well as injustice and inhumane punishments. The execution of unfair laws against all ethnic and religious minorities, gender discrimination against women and also the carrying out of inhumane acts of punishments such as flogging, torture, and unacceptable forms of execution such as stoning and the like are consequences of the interference of religion into state affairs.
The unpopular regime in Iran which is a clear example of a theocracy has no respect or belief in freedom of thought, expression or belief. In such an atmosphere, religious minorities – Zoroastrians, Sunnis, Christians, Jews and Baha’is in addition to Sufis and Dervishes including the majority of Shiites believers who are opposed to the ‘Doctrine of Velayate Faghih’ (Rule of the Jurisprudent) are constantly harassed and repressed. With the slightest of objections or expressions of criticism, these people are immediately arrested on trumped up charges and tried without due representation before courts that have no legitimacy and make mockery of justice.
Since its inception in 1979, the Islamic regime has consistently violated every provision contained in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law – a phenomenon whose extent and intensity has increased year after year. The bogus scenario that manifested itself in the aftermath of last years’ presidential elections removed any vestige of doubt concerning the very nature of this dictatorship. Today every Iranian household bears the scars of these inhumane acts of injustice. Many amongst them have been forced to either hide their views and opinions or seek refuge away from their homeland. Today, throughout the world, the regime in Iran which purports to represent ‘Political Islam’ in the world has become the role model for injustice and violence.
The arbitrary and crude behavior of Iran’s religious dictators has promoted confrontations and conflicts in other lands while jeopardizing regional and international peace and security as a consequence of its irresponsible and dangerous policies in areas such as nuclear and arms proliferation to the extent that it has placed the entire Middle East region on a time bomb.
The international community is closely knit and interconnected. As such international and regional peace and security is incumbent on the responsible cooperation that must exist between all its members. For this reason, it is only natural that the United Nations and its relevant organs to form a committee of international lawyers and experts to investigate the abuses taking place in Iran and the Middle East as a consequence of intervention of religion into politics thus paving the way for the passage of a resolution supporting the separation of state from religion.
At the same time, the international community should also do its utmost to ensure that the regime in Tehran accepts a free and fair referendum carried out under the supervision of international monitors so that the people of Iran can once again become masters of their own destiny.
Hoping for a global solidarity for the resolution of the current crisis and with my very best wishes for peace and freedom around the world,
Seyyed Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi, Evin Prison