Amidst international outrage, the United Nations has lowered its flag to half-staff in honor of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash. Raisi, known as the "Butcher of Tehran" for his role in mass executions, has drawn condemnation from human rights activists and Iran hawks. The UN's gesture has sparked sharp criticism, with accusations of disregard for victims of Raisi's regime.
The United Nations flag was lowered to half-staff on Tuesday to honor Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister, and others who died in a helicopter crash on Monday. The move has sparked outrage and condemnation from human rights activists and Iran hawks, who decry the UN's recognition of a perpetrator of mass atrocities.
Raisi, nicknamed the "Butcher of Tehran" for his oversight of mass executions of political prisoners in 1988, died along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other Iranian officials in the crash. Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, expressed shock and anger over the UN's gesture, calling it a disservice to Raisi's victims.
The UN's decision to honor Raisi has also raised concerns about the organization's credibility and impartiality. Several UN member nations have offered condolences to the Iranian regime, a show of support for a state sponsor of terror that has outraged human rights advocates.
Bayefsky highlighted the UN's failure to condemn the terrorist organization Hamas and its atrocities, as well as its lack of a definition of terrorism due to the claims of Islamic states. She criticized the UN's selective application of its principles, allowing terrorist supporters to escape condemnation while censoring those who expose their crimes.
Mourners in black gathered in Iran on Tuesday for days of funerals and processions to honor Raisi. However, the demonstrations will be tightly controlled by the Shiite theocracy, with security forces on high alert to quell any public celebrations of the president's death.
Raisi's death has cast uncertainty over the succession of Iran's supreme leader, 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There is no clear heir-apparent for the presidency ahead of the planned June 28 elections.
Raisi faced US sanctions for his role in mass executions and abuses targeting protesters and dissidents. Iran under Raisi also shipped bomb-carrying drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. International presence at his funeral remains uncertain due to his controversial legacy.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, expressed discomfort in offering condolences while Iran continues to provide drones for civilian attacks in Ukraine. Similarly, UK's Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, condemned Raisi's regime and stated he would not mourn him.
Despite the international outcry, the UN held a moment of silence for Raisi on Monday at the request of Russia, China, and Algeria. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, stood for a minute to honor Raisi, a move that dismayed human rights advocates.
Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the moment of silence a "disgrace" and slammed the UN for honoring a "mass murdering" president. Senator Tim Scott, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, deemed the tributes to Raisi an insult to the Iranian people.
Senator Ted Cruz, another Republican on the committee, stated that the world is better off without Raisi and condemned the UN's actions as "utterly beclowned." State Department spokesperson Matt Miller clarified that the US participation in the moment of silence did not diminish Raisi's record of human rights abuses.
This episode has raised serious questions about the UN's commitment to human rights and its ability to maintain impartiality in the face of pressure from authoritarian regimes. The organization's actions have drawn sharp criticism from those who believe it has lost its moral compass and disregarded the victims of Raisi's brutal regime.
