U.S. to Boycott U.N. Tribute for Deceased Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

[Social Media]

 

In a decisive move, the United States has announced it will boycott a United Nations tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this month. The tribute, scheduled for Thursday, is a customary practice of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, which traditionally honors any sitting head of state who passes away while in office. However, the U.S. has chosen to abstain from this event, marking a significant diplomatic stance.

 

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the boycott to Reuters, stating, "We won't attend this event in any capacity." This decision, which has not been previously reported, underscores the deep-seated tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly regarding Raisi's controversial legacy. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York has declined to comment on the U.S. decision. Raisi, a hardliner seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died on May 19 when his helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border.

 

The U.S. official elaborated on the reasons behind the boycott, emphasizing Raisi's involvement in severe human rights abuses. "The United Nations should be standing with the people of Iran, not memorializing their decades-long oppressor," the official said. "Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988." The official also highlighted that "some of the worst human rights abuses on record, especially against the women and girls of Iran, took place during his tenure."

 

This sentiment echoes the broader U.S. stance on Raisi, whose presidency was marked by stringent morality laws, a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, and a hardline approach in nuclear negotiations with world powers. Raisi, who was 63 at the time of his death, was elected president in 2021 and his administration faced international criticism for its human rights record.

 

The U.N. Security Council had already acknowledged Raisi's death with a moment of silence at the start of an unrelated meeting on May 20. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood participated reluctantly, standing with his 14 counterparts. Despite this gesture, the U.S. maintained a critical perspective on Raisi's legacy. On the day of the crash, the State Department expressed "official condolences" for Raisi's death, and White House national security spokesperson John Kirby remarked, "No question this was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands."

 

The Biden administration's response to Raisi's death, particularly its decision to offer condolences, was met with strong criticism from some Republican members of Congress. These critics argued that such gestures were inappropriate given Raisi's record of human rights abuses.

 

Raisi's presidency was notably repressive, characterized by his orders to tighten morality laws and his oversight of violent crackdowns on dissent. His hardline policies and aggressive stance in nuclear negotiations often put him at odds with Western nations and human rights organizations. The decision by the U.S. to boycott the U.N. tribute serves as a pointed reminder of these conflicts and highlights the ongoing challenges in U.S.-Iran relations.

 

In summary, the U.S. boycott of the U.N. tribute to Ebrahim Raisi is a significant diplomatic statement reflecting deep-rooted objections to his legacy of human rights abuses. This move underscores the complex and often contentious nature of international relations and human rights advocacy, particularly in the context of U.S.-Iran dynamics.

 

Deputy UN Chief Amina Mohammed praying for Raisi

No Joke: 🇺🇳 Deputy UN Chief Amina Mohammed prays for Allah to grant mass murderers Ebrahim Raisi & henchman Amir Abdollahian entrance into the Gardens of Paradise. @AminaJMohammed, don’t you know they were the opposite of righteous? The “families and people of Iran” condemn you. https://t.co/35wlDopozM pic.twitter.com/siyR6b3btB

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 26, 2024

Credit: Reuters 2024-05-31

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Tug]

GOOD 👍 

[Purdey]

No Muslim comments that Allah had killed him as punishment I see.

[PETERTHEEATER]

👍