OPEN LETTER FROM MINA AHADI TO HEADS OF STATES

The international struggle to save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani from being stoned to death brought but one example of the crimes of the Islamic regime in Iran to the attention of people around the world. However, despite the international outcry, the regime still seeks to execute Sakineh. This is an entirely political move aimed at intimidating the people of Iran as well as disregarding the international pressure in this regard.

According to conservative, documented statistics in our possession, the Islamic Republic has so far stoned 109 people to death. In addition, there are currently 25 people awaiting death by stoning.

This regime has a 31-year track record of crime, riddled with such atrocities as the execution of thousands of people, the execution of youth and children, amputations, gouging of eyes, and a host of other barbaric and murderous crimes. The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the world record for execution proportional to the population. It is the only government in the world now that executes children and youth under 18 years of age. This government is not the representative of the people of Iran; it is their murderer. Its heads must be tried by international tribunals for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Under such dreadful circumstances, what the people of Iran and all civilized citizens of the world expect of you is to use everything in your power to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic to free Sakineh and abolish stoning as a mediaeval form of savagery. Last week President Desilva Lula of Brazil announced that his country will officially accept Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and her family as refugees. This is certainly a positive act in the direction of saving Sakineh – one that I hope will be followed by similar acts on the part of other states.

The 21st-century world cannot and must not tolerate a regime that stones people to death. On behalf of the people of Iran I call on you to refuse to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran. The real, feasible and civilized way for the world to be rid of the menace of the Islamic Republic is the overthrow of this barbaric, medieval regime by the power of the struggles of the people of Iran. So they expect you to support their legitimate, freedom-seeking struggles through refusing to recognize the Islamic regime as well as through its political boycott. A regime of stoning, torture, flogging, maiming, and execution is not worthy of recognition by any state or international body.

Mina Ahadi
Coordinator
International Committee Against Stoning and International Committee Against Execution
August 4, 2010
Email: minaahadi@aol.com
Tel: 0049 (0) 1775692413
http://notonemoreexecution.org
http://stopstonningnow.com