Dear sisters and brothers, Another issue I would like to address is the link and relationship between the September 1st massacre in Ashraf and the nuclear talks. In fact, the mass executions of Mojahedin in Ashraf on September 1, 2013 was the hidden half of the regime’s retreat in the nuclear talks and the JCPOA. On November 24, 2013, the Iranian regime’s representatives engaged in the nuclear talks in Geneva, signed an agreement. Before the start of these talks, in September 2013, Khamenei took action through his puppet, former Iraqi prime minister Maliki, and committed the massacre in Ashraf.

The massacre in Ashraf is a chapter directly tied to the Resistance, freedom and human rights in Iran
August 30, 2017

Among these martyrs were also pioneers from Iran’s younger generation:
Rahman Mannani, Amir Nazari, Saeed Akhavan, Nasser Habashi, and Yasser Hajian. These were pioneers for the younger generation of Iranians. Selfless and knowledgeable freedom fighters who chose to fight on the frontlines equipped with full sincerity and honesty.

Nor will we ever forget the seven residents of Ashraf who were taken hostage. The government of Iraq never informed us of their fates. Unfortunately, the UN, US, EU and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees did not compel the puppet government of Iraq at the time to hold itself accountable for this abduction.

The mullahs and their puppet, former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, were complicit in this kidnapping, but have cowardly refused to claim responsibility.
But we will not forget or relent until we take the mullahs’ religious tyranny and their agents and mercenaries in Iraq to the courts to face justice.

Some human epics need the passage of time to reveal their true message. But there are also epics that immediately inspire action and regenerate themselves. The Epic of Ashraf was one such example because it immediately created a large impact led by the perseverance of the 42 brave surviving PMOI members.
You were witnesses to the scenes of the massacre. 

You emerged from that battle, eager to fight on under the command of Maryam Akbari in those moments of life and death. Indeed, she fulfilled her historic duty in the best way possible. At the time, you were not just 42 individuals, but representatives of an enchained nation that wishes to bring down the mullahs’ tyrannical regime. You lived to fight the murderers.

Maryam Rajavi vowed to carry on the struggle of the martyrs of 1988 who stood by their ideals to final fruition. She said: We vow to turn every drop of your unjustly-shed blood, into a force for struggle and battle for freedom. And we vow to carry on your glorious ideal to final victory.

COMMEMORATING THE HEROES MARTYRED IN THE 1988 MASSACRE IN IRAN

Ms. Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Senator Robert Kennedy and President of Robert Kennedy Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Mariano Rabino, member of the Foreign Affairs and Human Rights committees of the Parliament of Italy; Senator Pietro Liuzzi, member of Cultural and EU Policy committees of the Italian Senate; Ms.

 Ingrid Betancourt, former Senator from Columbia, and Tahar Boumedra, former director of the Human Rights Office of UNAMI attended and addressed the ceremony.

Maryam Rajavi made a speech at this gathering. At the end of the ceremony, she laid a flower wreath at the monument commemorating the victims of the 1988 massacre and paid them respects.

In brief remarks addressed to the 30,000 proud martyrs, massacred in 1988, Maryam Rajavi said:
We are commemorating the memory of martyrs of the 1988 massacre, along with PMOI members who are continuing your path. Generation after generation, people asked about your stories and headed for your glorious destination.

 Although Khomeini sought to send you into oblivion, you have become eternal; you have turned into the rebellious conscience of the Iranian people. Khomeini was defeated by your perseverance and resorted to massacre.