THE SILENT ERASURE

The Iranian Regime’s Assault on Memory and Justice

In the shadowy corridors of power in Tehran, a sinister campaign is unfolding, one that seeks not only to silence dissent, but to obliterate the very memory of those who dared to challenge the oppressive regime. The Iranian authorities have intensified their systematic efforts to erase evidence of past atrocities by demolishing Section 41 of the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery, the final resting place of nearly 9,500 martyrs from the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran/Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK). Reports from dissidents inside the repressive, theocratic regime, say that heavy machinery is being used to level the graves, with intelligence agents deployed to block public access. This deliberate act of destruction is a chilling reminder of the lengths to which the regime will go to conceal its bloody history of human rights abuses.

For decades, the PMOI/MEK has stood as a symbol of resistance against tyranny, representing the hopes and aspirations of countless Iranians who yearn for freedom and democracy. In the 1980s, the regime unleashed a brutal campaign of executions against political opponents, and Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra serves as a sombre testament to those lost lives. Each grave in that section tells a story – stories of courage, sacrifice, and the unyielding pursuit of justice. By destroying this sacred ground, the Iranian regime is not only attempting to erase history, but also sending a clear message that dissent will not be tolerated, and the truth will be buried alongside the victims. In countries like Iran where serious human rights violations have occurred, mass graves offer untold insights into the nature of such crimes, but also provide truth and closure for the families of victims of mass atrocities. When mass graves are unprotected, unacknowledged, and ignored, the opportunity for societal healing and justice goes unmet

On 19 August, Tehran’s Deputy Mayor, Davoud Goodarzi, openly admitted that the site has been converted into a car park with ‘authorisation from officials’. Such authorisation can only have come from the Supreme Leader himself, the sociopathic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose deliberate policy is to eliminate all traces of the mass executions, which have been recognised by UN experts as crimes against humanity and genocide. Indeed, the Deputy Mayor even admitted publicly that the site is the graveyard of “the hypocrites”, the regime’s derisive name for the PMOI/MEK. This act of vandalism in Section 41 of the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran, is not merely a violation of the dignity of the deceased, it is an affront to humanity itself.

The international community has a moral obligation to respond to this atrocity. The UN, which prides itself on being the guardian of human rights, must take immediate and decisive action and must condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. It must also demand accountability for those responsible for this heinous act. The Iranian regime must understand that it cannot act with impunity. The eyes of the world are watching, and we will not allow the memory of those who perished in the struggle for freedom to be erased.

This is not an isolated incident. For decades, the regime has systematically desecrated or destroyed the burial sites of victims from the 1980s across Iran, from Mashhad and Ahvaz to Tabriz and Khavaran, in an attempt to obliterate historical evidence. In his 2024 report, Professor Javaid Rehman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, affirmed that the 1981 and 1988 massacres of PMOI/MEK political prisoners, constituted genocide and crimes against humanity. He urged states to invoke universal jurisdiction to hold the perpetrators accountable. The UN has adopted key resolutions concerning the investigation of mass graves, including General Assembly Resolution 68/165 on the right to the truth, and Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution 15/5 on forensic genetics and human rights.

Moreover, the UN must support the efforts of Iranian activists and human rights organizations that are working tirelessly to document the atrocities committed by the Iranian regime. The truth must be established, not only to honour the victims but also to empower the living in their quest for justice and accountability. The memory of the 9,500 martyrs of Section 41 must not fade into oblivion. It must be a rallying cry for all those who believe in the fundamental rights of individuals to express themselves freely and to live without fear of persecution.

As we witness this assault on memory and justice, we must remember that the struggle for human rights in Iran is far from over. The Iranian people and their brave PMOI/MEK Resistance Units are resilient, and their quest for freedom continues. It is our duty to stand in solidarity with them, to amplify their voices, and to ensure that history remembers the sacrifices made in the name of liberty. Let us not be silent in the face of tyranny. The destruction of Section 41 demands our outrage, our action, and our unwavering commitment to the principles of justice and human rights. The time for the UN to act is now.