Family of victims call for arrest of Iranian president ahead of Cop26
The family of victims killed in a massacre in Iran have made a formal request to Police Scotland to arrest president Ebrahim Raisi for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” if he arrives in Scotland.
The UK’S office of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a press conference in Glasgow yesterday announcing the filing of two complaint procedures against Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Iranian regime, and called for Police Scotland to arrest Raisi - nicknamed ‘the Butcher of Iran’ – if he visits the country.
The NCRI claims that Ebradi him Raisi – who has been invited to the climate talks in Scotland – took part in the execution of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran in 1988.
Ahead of Cop26, former Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson chaired the conference and said that if Mr Raisi enters Glasgow for the Climate Change summit he should be “arrested immediately”.
Tahar Boumedra, former chief of the UN Human Rights Office in Iraq, also attended the conference and explained that there had been another complaint registered with the Metropolitan Police in London against Mr Raisi.
During the conference, plaintiffs described torture and genocide they said they jad witnessed under the Iranian president’s regime.
Ahmad Ebrahimi and Rezza Fallaha claimed they were political prisoners from 1981 to 1991. Mr Ebrahimi said he was subjected to physical and psychological torture and talked about how he was taken to a corridor in 1988 named “death corridor” and saw the Iranian president among the “Death Committee which killed many people”.
Mr Ebrahimi said: “I am one of the witnesses of that massacre. We are making a complaint in England and Scotland against him we want if he comes anywhere near this country to be questioned and examined for crimes against humanity.” Farzaneh Majiclaimed she lost five family members including “two aunties who were hanged under the order of Ebrahim Raisi”.
Ms Majidi said: “We want Police Scotland to immediately support Iranian people and we ask them to arrest Ebrahim Raisi and other criminals in the death committee.”
During the conference, the plaintiffs all agreed that they are happy for Police Scotland to talk to them and ask them the details of “the numerous crimes Raisi has committed”.
Mr Stevenson said he has so far had two responses from the police to his formal request to arrest the Iranian president under universal jurisdiction if he enters Scotland.
He said he would urge First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Home Secretary Priti Patel to “get their heads together” and “ensure there is a political initiative taken”.
Mr Stevenson said: “This is a matter of major importance.
“This man must not be allowed to set foot in Scotland. Scotland does not take well to mass murderers coming here and if this man dares to attend Cop26, he should be immediately arrested by the Police.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have received information which is being assessed.”