For the second time since assuming the presidency of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, infamously known as the ‘Butcher of Tehran’ for his involvement in the 1988 massacre, has canceled a European visit due to widespread protests and calls for his arrest under universal jurisdiction laws.
Raisi had planned to address the UN Global Refugee Forum in Geneva on December 13 but faced vehement opposition, especially from the Iranian diaspora and supporters of the Iranian Resistance. The invitation to Raisi stirred global outrage, given his background as a key figure in the 1988 massacre and his regime’s involvement in regional conflicts.
The cancellation marks the second instance where protests have thwarted Raisi’s European travel plans. In 2021, a similar outcry led to the cancellation of his visit to the COP 26 summit in Glasgow, prompting concerns over potential arrests based on universal jurisdiction principles.
This time, a legal complaint has been filed with Swiss authorities, urging the arrest and prosecution of Raisi for acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial executions, and other crimes against humanity. Thousands of Iranians gathered in Geneva on December 12, demanding Raisi’s arrest and the expulsion of the Iranian regime from the UN.
An open letter, co-signed by 453 prominent figures, including former world leaders, judges, Nobel laureates, and human rights experts, denounced Raisi’s participation in the UN refugee forum. The letter highlighted Raisi’s role in the 1988 massacre, the killings during mass demonstrations in 2019 and 2022, and the recent surge in executions in Iran.
Raisi’s apprehensions about potential arrest in Europe are not unfounded, as last year, a Swedish court sentenced a former prison guard and Raisi’s aide to life in prison for his role in the 1988 massacre, citing universal jurisdiction.
The article concludes by underscoring the increasing global scrutiny on the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses and acts of terrorism, emphasizing the likelihood of Raisi facing accountability for his alleged crimes.