The Iranian authorities must urgently stop the destruction of a mass grave in the southern city of Ahvaz said Amnesty International today, launching a campaign to urge authorities to protect the site, where dozens of prisoners killed during a wave of mass extrajudicial executions in August and September 1988 are buried.
Construction
near the area began earlier this year. Recent footage obtained
by the organization shows the site is gradually being buried beneath
piles of construction waste. The campaign is being launched along with a video highlighting
the imminent risks posed to the site.
“Bulldozing
the mass grave at Ahvaz will destroy crucial forensic evidence that could be
used to bring those responsible for the 1988 mass extrajudicial executions to
justice. It would also deprive families of victims of their rights to truth,
justice and reparation, including the right to bury their loved ones in
dignity. By joining Amnesty International’s campaign, people can help to press
Iran’s authorities to stop the imminent destruction of the site,” said Philip
Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle
East and North Africa.
“Instead of desecrating
the mass grave with piles of rubbish and waste and further tormenting families,
who face repression for their efforts to protect the memory of their loved
ones, the authorities should be upholding their duty to preserve all Iran’s
mass grave sites so that investigations can be carried out into the 1988
extrajudicial executions and other mass killings.”
This month marks 29
years since the mass prisoner killings took place across the country.
The organization is
calling on people to join the campaign by sending appeals to Ahvaz City Council
and Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, amongst other targets, and promoting
the hashtag #MassGraves88 on social media.
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