Chairperson,
As we debate Human Rights Day today, I want to focus on a recent article written by Peter Fabricius for the Daily Maverick entitled: “Why the silence on Iran’s brutality, asks economist Iraj Abedian of SA.”
Speaking to the Cape Town Press Club on Friday the 13th of March, Mr Abedian criticised South Africa’s indifference to Iran’s brutal regime, and highlighted the urgent need for a global response to the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
He said, and I quote: “The crisis in Iran must be seen not as a geopolitical risk, but as a humanitarian crisis.” It is “the crisis of a nation oppressed, suppressed and mutilated by its own governing regime for 47 years.”
The ACDP commends Mr Abedian for raising this critical observation—one that should be considered and debated by all South Africans.
Is Iran not committing genocide against their own people when they cry out for freedom and rights that democratic countries around the world enjoy? And, why have democratic governments such as South Africa, closed their eyes and ears to the Iranian people’s desperate cries for help as they seek freedom from their brutal, oppressive and murderous rulers? The ACDP supports the people of Iran and every effort to help free them from such despotic tyranny.
Yesterday, the UK’s DailyMail reported that two Iranian nurses had been brutally tortured by regime security agents in revenge for treating wounded protestors, with one victim begging that surgeons leave her to die.
One nurse, who is just 33 years old, was held in detention and said she had been repeatedly gang-raped by three IRGC agents at a time for three days, according to Iran International.
The sexual assaults were so severe doctors had to remove part of her intestine and her uterus may have to be taken out. She also has to live with a colostomy bag.
The cruelty must stop! The ACDP strongly condemns these barbaric acts.
We also call on the ANC and all parties that support Iran to do the same—Speak out and condemn these violent acts that have been perpetrated against the Iranian people!
