Thousands of anti-regime protesters gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Tuesday to demand an end to Iran’s execution of political prisoners and to establish a free democracy in the country.
The demonstration, led by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called for world leaders at the UN General Assembly to act and force the Islamic republic to end the latest surge in executions, with at least 100 political prisoners currently on death row.
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, slammed the presence of Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the UN meeting as she and rallygoers called for an end to the current regime.
Robert Miller for NY Post
“As long as this regime remains in power, repression, executions, terrorism, and warmongering will continue,” Rajavi said in a video call-in. “The solution is regime change by the Iranian people and their organized Resistance.”
Iran has undergone an execution spree since its brutal crackdown on protesters in January, with at least 56 people hung on national security-related charges since March 19, according to the UN.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk warned last month that more than 100 people were facing death sentences under the regime.
Among those recently sentenced to death was Leila Abolhasani, 43, a mother of two who only filmed a retail store burning during the January protests.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a former Trump adviser, also condemned the arrival of Iran’s delegation in New York, claiming the country has never been right since the 1979 revolution that established the Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
“The people of Iran are his greatest victims, denied political rights to choose their own government, denied the human rights of freedom of speech and association, and even the right to dress as they so choose, manipulated and exploited by a cynical regime controlled by a military autocracy that is corrupting and stealing the wealth of the people of Iran,” Kellogg said.
Iranian activist Zahra Amanpour echoed the need to forego the Islamic republic and the monarchy of the past, calling for democracy to take root in the country to ensure the freedom for all Iranians.
