By The United Nations Security Council held a moment of silence on Monday for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, despite his notorious reputation as the “Butcher of Tehran” for his role in human rights abuses. The gesture, requested by Russia, China, and Algeria, saw representatives, including United States Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood, standing in honor of Raisi.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan strongly condemned the moment of silence, calling it a “disgrace” to honor a “mass murdering” figure like Raisi. Erdan criticized the U.N. Security Council for failing to advance the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 attack on Israel. He questioned the Council’s judgment, asking, “What’s next? Will the Council dedicate a moment of silence to commemorate Hitler?”
The U.S. State Department spokesperson, Matt Miller, addressed the country’s participation in the moment of silence during an afternoon press briefing. When asked if the U.S.’ involvement was appropriate, Miller acknowledged Raisi’s “brutal” role in the repression of the Iranian people for nearly four decades, including his involvement in the extrajudicial killing of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 and the severe human rights abuses against women and girls during his tenure as president.
However, Miller also expressed regret for any loss of life, stating, “We don’t want to see anyone die in a helicopter crash. But that doesn’t change the reality of his record, both as a judge and as the president of Iran.”
Behnam Ben Taleblu, an expert on Iranian security at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), criticized both the U.N. and the State Department for their self-defeating actions, arguing that their “muddled approach” prioritized diplomatic niceties over the reality of Raisi’s bloody past.
A senior adviser to the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. defended the country’s participation, stating that standing for moments of silence in the Security Council is a diplomatic norm and does not represent any honor or tribute to Raisi, whose repression and brutality the U.S. consistently countered in that very room.
Raisi’s death has brought his human rights record back into the spotlight. In 1988, he served on “death commissions” that handed down death sentences for political prisoners, militants, and others, with international rights groups estimating that as many as 5,000 people were executed. Despite defending his actions as being a “defender of human rights,” activists abroad have described Raisi’s presidency as a period of escalated state repression and violence against peaceful dissent in Iran.
The country witnessed mass protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman detained over her allegedly loose headscarf. The subsequent monthslong security crackdown resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people and the detention of over 22,000 others.
Raisi’s death in the helicopter crash, along with others, including the country’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, was confirmed by Iranian state media on Monday after an hours-long search through the foggy, mountainous region of East Azerbaijan province. Raisi was seen as a protĂ©gĂ© to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor for his position within the country’s Shiite theocracy.
The controversy surrounding the U.N.’s moment of silence for Raisi highlights the complex nature of international diplomacy and the challenges faced when dealing with figures associated with human rights abuses. While some argue that diplomatic norms should be upheld, others believe that moral clarity and a firm stance against repression should take precedence.
Credit: Foxnews.com
