'Ahmadinejad Wall of Shame Rally'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOsozfVI2KE

The Ahmadinejad Wall of Shame Rally organized by Stop Child Executions took place last week outside the UN building in NY at the same time that Ahmadinejad was speaking at the General Assembly.

A month ago when Iran executed two more children WITHOUT informing family members and the lawyer I flipped! I was so upset, angry and sad for the poor families of these boys. Iran's officials are now no longer only violating International treaties which THEY HAVE SIGNED but they are violating their OWN laws when it comes to child rights. I decided enough was enough and organized a rally to share with the world that President AHMADINEJAD does NOT represent the people of Iran, nor does the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_RTeGWD6o&feature=related

I was overwhelmed with the kindness and dedication of some activists who flew all the way from L.A. and people in buses from Toronto and Washington DC to attend the demonstration.

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It was very important for me to have true voices of Iranians share their experiences and knowledge of the brutalities and human rights abuses that take place in Iran like executions, stoning, political prisoners, persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, curtailment of the freedom of press and of course women’s rights.

I also thought it was very important to gather Iranians from one side of the political spectrum to the other and everything in between, as a symbolic gesture to prove that in the face of human rights we stand united together. We all have the same dream for Iran's future: a country that is free, democratic, equal, the rule of law, separation between religion and state, and a constitution based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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I want, one of the forefathers of Persia, Cyrus the Great, who founded the first charter of Human Rights the world has ever known, to be proud that his people have followed his legacy.

With 6 children executed this year alone and 140 minors waiting on death row, it infuriated me further that CNN legitimized Ahmadinejad by having Ahmadinejad on the Larry King show. Journalists are making the same mistake over and over by concentrating solely on the nuclear question and overshadowing Human Rights. What about the 70 million Iranians who are suffering every day in a police state whereby their “leader” does not represent their voices.

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I made a disclaimer in my speech by saying that by demonizing the regime, by NO MEANS am I advocating for war or any type of conflict or military intervention on Iran.  It would only play into the hands of the mullahs and wipe out any advancement made by human rights activists thus far in Iran.  The only long term solution for peace and stability in the Middle East, and world security is by empowering Iran's civil society, the women, the students, labour unions and the life.

I was fortunate to have some great speakers covering various issues inside Iran: Ex-Political prisoners and activists Ahmad Batebi and Kianoosh Sanjari, Dr. Ramin Ahmadi with Iran Human Rights Documentation Center,  Pastor Reza F. Safa founder of Christian Satellite network in Farsi Nejat TV, Furugh Arghavan from the International committee against Execution and stoning, and the Honourable Dr. David Kilgour ex Canadian Member of Parliament and director of Council for a Community of Democracies.

We also presented the petition to free Ayatollah Boroujerdi currently detained in Iran's prison for advocating the separation between religion and state as well as others unfairly imprisoned :Amir Entezam, Arzhang Davoodi, Mansoureh Osanloo, Farzad Kamangar, Emmaddedine Baghi, missing Alavi brothers.

We launched our list of recommendations to Iran and the world community on steps to stop the execution of children.

I concluded the rally by reminding how much power we have as individual to make change in this world. Together, united, with enough pressure and collaboration we will be able to stop putting on band aid solutions; rather we will be able to help empower the Iranian people to gain a democratic system whereby they can chose their own leaders and their own destiny.

Please join us next time, and don’t forget to visit us online at www.stopchildexecutions.com

Freedom for all,

Nazanin

PS Here is a CNN video clip prior to the rally:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2CnATihgQ

PPS Here is a video clip of a section of a speech I made one day prior to our rally. It was called the rally to Stop Iran Now!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=5I-1Cpwz2sU

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