November 14, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President,
During the past several months your administration has been meeting and negotiating with the representatives of the clerical regime in Iran, with a hope of reaching an accord on that regime's ever-expanding nuclear program. What has been grossly absent in those deliberations, in my view, is the US Government's concern for the ever deteriorating situation of respect for the universally accepted norms of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran. As you are aware, Iran has the highest numbers of executions in the world relative to its population, due process is non-existent, there is a wide range of discrimination against women and religious minorities, and the country has a very high number of political prisoners.
I am sure you recall, Sir, that even in the Helsinki Accords of August 2, 1975, which was aimed at reducing tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western countries, the 35 signatory countries, inter alia, pledged to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms whilst cooperating in economic, scientific, environmental, humanitarian and other fields. The idea that security was all comprehensive was indeed the reason for the success of the Helsinki Accords.
I believe, I would be articulating the demands of over one million Americans of Iranian origin today, if I were to request from your administration to follow-up on the spirit of the Helsinki Accords and procedures in your government’s ongoing deliberations and agreements with the regime of the "Ayatollahs" in Iran.
Please accept Mr. President the assurances of my highest considerations.
Respectfully,
Professor Manouchehr Ganji
Email: axs2mg@aol.com
Tel: 818-290-3600
About Manouchehr Ganji:
Manouchehr Ganji was born in Tehran, Iran. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science and International Relations from theUniversity of Kentucky, his doctorate degree in International Law – International Protection of Human Rights - from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, University of Geneva, and his post doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge.
Ganji was the Minister of Education of Iran between the years 1976 and 1978. He served as professor of international law and international organizations at Tehran University from 1966 to 1979. He was the founder and the first Director of the University's Center for Graduate International Studies (1966–1971). He served as the Dean of Faculty of Law and Political Science of Tehran University (1971–1974) and he acted as the advisor to the Prime Minister of Iran, Amir Abbas Hoveida, between the years 1974-1976. Ganji was also the Founder of the Iranian Committee for Human Rights, 1967 and its first Secretary-General, 1967-1970. He has written 27 books in Persian, English and French and many articles on the topics of international protection of human rights, civil disobedience and international law. (More Here)
Fantastic & well articulated letter. Fully agree with every point in it. But, I am sorry to tell you that it'll fall on deaf ears, for a variety of reasons.
If the "nuclear" talks progress well, as they seem to be, then we can all look forward, mid to long term, to a US/Iran relationship similar to current US/Saudi relationship (some would argue similar to the past US/Iran under shah relationship). Where Human rights abuse are completely ignored by the west, unless due to political expedience.
Excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Iran in alignment with the West means lack of alignment with the East. Currently, the Chinese litter every corner in Iran like pesh-gel with big construction and oil "contracts". If this continues, they will have the upper hand in forming the exisitng and future policies in the Middle East. That doesn't agree with the West's doctrime for the area, and as late as this recongnition may have come, it's true.
By the way, even in Saudi Arabia, you see more Chinese than Westerners from time to time.
Human Rights have NEVER been a true concern for anyone who matters, just means to an end. People are marginalized - that will always remain to be the case.