We – Dutch citizens who feel closely connected with Iran, either because we have our roots, or we have friends there, or simply because we believe in the universal right of anyone to live under a democratic government – have followed the last few days with growing concern the developments in Iran.
Also for a Secretary of State, for whom the worldwide compliance with human rights is a central issue of policy, the events since the elections of last Friday must be a source for concern. It is a fact that elections in Iran have never been democratic or fair. But this time the patience of the Iranian people has run out. As a result there are protest actions by millions of frauded civilians in Iran’s major cities. These actions are no longer only aimed against the election fraud, but also against the more general violation of the rights of the Iranian people by the regime of the Supreme Leader Khamenei.
At this very moment, demonstrations are ruthlessly suppressed by police, army and masij milition, in front of the world’s eyes. Numbrous people have been injured and unfortunately even killed. Violence and arrests notwithstanding, never since the founding of the Islamic Republic now thirty years ago, such numerous resistance has been shown by the Iranian people like today.
Iranians expect support, but world leadership thus far have not clearly expressed themselves. It is of the utmost importance that the Dutch government make a clear policy statement in front of Iran and of the rest of the world concerning this issue. Not only because human solidarity dictates we speak out againt unjustice, but also because this is the only possible support for the protesters in a country without freedom of speech, where violence is not spared.
Moreover, we would like to point you and your colleagues in the European Union to the fact that a democratic Iran will be a better partner in the dialogue about the Iranian nuclear programme and in maintaining stability in the Middle-East than the present regime.
For these reasons, in the light of the recent developments in Iran we ask you and the Dutch government the following:
• Not to acknowledge Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran, based on the present elections;
• To summon the Iranian ambassador in the Netherlands;
• To severely condemn the violence of the Iranian Republic against peaceful civilians;
• To severely and continuously condemn the obstruction of press freedom, by arresting, threaten and exile (foreign) journalists by the Iranian government;
• To severely and continuously condemn the obstruction of the freedom of speech by blocking communication media like telephone and internet services, as well as prohibiting protest by the Iranian government;
• In case the situation does not ameliorate, to withdraw the Dutch ambassador from Iran and to send back to Iran the Iranian ambassador in the Netherlands;
• To do everything possible to ensure that the people of Iran will keep access to news, for example by publishing messages of official press agencies on the website of the Dutch Embassy in Tehran;
• To do all that is necessary to arrive together with your EU colleagues at an European package of diplomatic measures against the illigitimate rulers of Iran.
As Dutch citizens we trust that our government under your leadership will show itself as a forefighter for human rights and will issue a firm reaction, now when it is most needed. The International Palace of Justice in The Hague has already earlier – during the period of the nationalisation of Iranian oil resources – played an important role in the course of Iranian history. The people of Iran will never forget Dutch support, also at this occasion.
Most sincerely,
The initiators:
Marina Lacroix, Amsterdam
Babak Ahmadi, Nijmegen - lrkebablr@yahoo.com
Damon Golriz, Den Haag - dgolriz@gmail.com
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