Representatives of Hengaw and Hawar to German Parliament: The Islamic Republic Must Be Held Accountable for Human Rights Violations

Representatives from the human rights organizations Hengaw and Hawar met with several members of the German Parliament in Berlin, urging them to hold the Islamic Republic accountable in international forums for widespread human rights violations. According to Hengaw, Zhila Mostajer and Arslan Yarahmadi, founders of this human rights organization, along with Daniela Sepahri, a representative of Hawar, and Mina Khani, a human rights activist and joint member of both organizations, participated in this meeting chaired by Peter Heidt, a representative of the German Liberal Party, and organized in collaboration with the Hawar human rights organization. The report states that the 'human rights situation in Iran, especially the challenges facing national-ethnic, religious, sexual, and gender minorities' was the focus of this meeting. Mina Khani emphasized the organization's reports on human rights violations in Iran, stating to the participating parliament members: 'Our effort reflects the catastrophic human rights situation in this volatile regional context, aiming to prevent the sidelining of human rights issues in the international arena. For example, we explain how the Islamic Republic commits ethnic cleansing under accusations such as collaboration with Israel.' Zhila Mostajer pointed out the 'systematic violation of human rights' in Iran, particularly the challenges faced by human rights organizations, including the dissemination of false information by the Islamic Republic. Arslan Yarahmadi also requested that the German representatives use their influence to improve the conditions of Iranian refugees in Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Mina Khani, speaking about the meeting held on Monday, October 15, stated to Voice of America that the systematic violation of human rights in Iran by the Islamic Republic regarding women, the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic and religious minorities, and opponents of the regime was discussed. She added that the meeting also referenced the case of Jakan Baran, a forcibly disappeared member of Hengaw. According to Khani, the representatives of Hengaw and Hawar urged the German parliament members to 'end the policy of appeasement towards the Islamic Republic and isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran internationally for its deliberate, targeted, and systematic violations of human rights.' She further noted that the representatives of these two human rights organizations called for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, international condemnation of human rights violations by the Islamic Republic, including for implementing gender apartheid, and actions to facilitate the migration and asylum processes for individuals at risk from Iran, especially in Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Hengaw human rights organization also highlighted the need to 'strengthen human rights and democratic institutions in Iran.'