On the eve of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody, families and victims of Iranians killed, tortured or injured by authorities have issued an open letter to world leaders calling for urgent international action to confront Tehran.
The signatories warn that current policies only embolden Tehran, which they describe as a menace to foreign powers and its people alike which survives solely through violence.
“The people of Iran have shed blood and stood firm. Now it is time for the international community to act for its own security. The struggle of the Iranian nation will be remembered in history as a sacrifice not only for freedom but also for the security of the world,” the letter states.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, died in September 2022 after being arrested by Iran’s so-called morality police.
Her death sparked widespread outrage and ignited the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement which was quashed with deadly force.
In their letter, the families and victims demanded governments formally designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, cut diplomatic and economic ties with Tehran, and impose sanctions on the IRGC’s financial, military and cyber networks.
"The people of Iran have shed blood and stood firm. Now it is time for the international community to act for its own security. The struggle of the Iranian nation will be remembered in history as a sacrifice not only for freedom but also for the security of the world," it read.
The families portray the Islamic Republic as weakened at home and increasingly isolated abroad. They point to the twelve-day war in June, during which the United States and Israel jointly struck nuclear sites and targeted senior IRGC officials, as a punishing blow.
Meanwhile, Iran’s economy continues to collapse. The rial has lost more than 90 percent of its value since US President Donald Trump imposed “maximum pressure” sanctions in 2018.
Coupled with widespread drought, empty taps and persistent electricity shortages, the instability is fueling fears of mass migration that could destabilize neighboring countries already struggling with refugee challenges.
The letter is signed by more than 100 victims and families of those killed or injured during nationwide uprisings in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
Among the public signatories are the families of people killed during the 2022 protests including Majid Kazemi, Mino Majidi, Pouya Bakhtiari and Aida Rostami, along with dozens of survivors who suffered severe injuries.
