International Moral Court

 on Iran

25.09.2004

PRESS RELEASE

The International Moral Court, established by a decision of a group of sixty-five eminent personalities from various backgrounds and living inside and outside of Iran, for the purpose of permitting Iranian nationals to give testimony about various aspects of the human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Members of the I.M.C. being: Eric Suy (Belgium) - President, Il-Yung Chung (Republic of Korea) - Vice-President, Ebenezer Okpokpo (Nigeria), Betty Fridan (United States), Olivier Warin (France), Bernard Coughlin (United States), Kathleen Mahoney (Canada), Hossein Abghari (Iran), Malika Boussouf (Algeria), and Alan Hart (United Kingdom);

Having met in Paris on 23, 24, and 25 September 2004;

Having heard and watched witnesses on human righs conditions in the Islamic Republic of Iran testify via VHS, DVD, written statements, and direct personal interviews before the court, which are all on record;

Concludes, prima facie, that there is sufficient material evidence to determine that gross and systematic violations of international human rights standards have taken place, and are still being perpetrated, in the Islamic Republic of Iran;

These violations concern, in particular, the civil and political rights, minority rights, torture and other inhumane treatments such as stoning, amputations, and rape;

Therefore calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to authorize access to the country of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights and other human rights agencies;

Also calls upon governments, in their dealings with the Islamic Republic of Iran, to insist upon strict observance of human rights standards;

Decides to transmit this Conclusion to the Secretary-General of the United Nations;

Expresses its gratitude to the French Government for its hospitality and assistance;

Decides to meet again, in the Spring of 2005 in order to continue the oversight and evaluation of the human rights situation in Iran.