The fight in Ukraine is inspiring U.S. leaders to support human freedom in Iran

April 30, 2022 by Homeira Hesami; The Dallas Morning News

Amid the tragic war in Ukraine, we see substantive change in a country whose population, young and old, women and men, are mobilizing to fight for freedom. For the first time in more than a generation, the world seems to be taking note, and in our part of the world, elected officials are also taking part in supporting freedom. 

For example, members of Congress participated in events organized by Iranian Americans promoting a non-nuclear, free republic in Iran. Akin to Ukraine, Iran’s plight has considerable impact on the cause of freedom worldwide, and because of Iran’s drive for nuclear weaponry, it is relevant to America’s security. Fifty-three members of Congress contributed to a bipartisan virtual conference to show support for a growing movement to establish a democratic, secular and non-nuclear republic in Iran. Participants included members of Congress from Texas.

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Support for Ukrainians Must Be Part of Larger Strategy for Countering Autocracy

March 12, 2022 by Ivan Sascha Sheehan; TownHall

The people of Ukraine both urgently need and richly deserve the free world’s full support in their fight to repel Russian occupation.With the relative power of the world’s democracies and autocracies hanging in the balance, there is no greater priority for the European Union, its member nations, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

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Despite Nuclear Talks, Iran Is Still Far from Moderation | Opinion

November 30, 2021; by Ted Poe, Newsweek

Negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal resumed in Vienna on Monday despite an uptick in the Islamic Republic's malign activities. Earlier this month, Iranian forces seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and conducted comprehensive military exercises, showcasing various military assets including suicide drones like that used in the attempted assassination of Iraqi prime minister Mustafa al-Khadimi.

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The 'Butcher of Tehran' is Terrified of Stepping Foot in the West | Opinion

October 1, 2021; by Struan Stevenson, Newsweek

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, dubbed the "butcher of Tehran" due to his involvement in murder, genocide and human rights violations, ducked out of attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York and instead sent a pre-recorded message. Raisi is on the U.S. sanctions list because of his leading role in the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners in Iran. It seems likely he chose to stay in Tehran rather than risk causing outrage to tens of thousands of ex-pat Iranians, had he come in person to New York. His predecessors as presidents of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani, both attended the New York U.N. General Assembly meetings in person, but Raisi is clearly afraid of his murderous past catching up with him if he dares to set foot in the West.

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I chose beatings over solitary confinement’ – this is what it was like to be locked up in prison in Tehran

September 11, 2021; by Mosfafa Naderi, Independent

Last week, leaked surveillance footage showed shocking abuses of prisoners in Iran’s Evin prison. Watching the videos reminded me of my years in Evin – with one notable difference: the guards of my time seemed even more barbaric.

I want to explain why what happened 33 years ago matters today. Iran’s society has changed, but its regime has not – in fact, Iran’s new president, Ebrahim Raisi, is one of the leaders of the horrific 1988 execution of thousands of political prisoners following the supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini’s fatwa (religious decree).

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