Petition to Bar the Islamic Regime of Iran from Joining the 

United Nations Security Council

To:       The United Nations

Leaders of the World

The United Nations Security Council

U.S. Congress

European Union

Dear Sirs/Madam,

We, the Iranians forced to live under the repressive government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and the Iranians compelled to live in exile, along the freedom loving people of the world, petition the United Nations, its Security Council and World Government Leaders to join us to strongly oppose the regime's request to join the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and appeal to all members of the Council to refuse the regime's request for a temporary seat on the UNSC.  We believe that <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /> IRI is the wrong choice and will send the wrong signal.  

We strongly believe UNSC membership should comprise countries with a strong track record on human rights and safeguard against any attempt to weaken the international human rights system. 

The Charter of the United Nations tasks the Security Council with the responsibility to maintain international peace and security and to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.  Article 23 of the United Nations Charter requires that Security Council members should be selected with "due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the organization." This Charter surely excludes those regimes that condone terrorism and disrespect human dignity and human rights.

In light of

extrajudicial and summary executions perpetrated by regime’s agents;  

a high incidence of arbitrary arrests and long-term detentions without trial;

the systematic use of torture and other ill-treatment or punishment;

imposition of the death penalty for offences that cannot be characterized as the most serious;

lack of judicial independence;

continuing inequality between women and men in such areas as inheritance, freedom of movement, nationality and divorce;

numerous restrictions in law and practice on freedom of expression and, in particular, the right to express opposition or criticism of the government, and considering that

the Islamic regime is under numerous sanctions, in violation of countless Security Council resolutions, with a proven record of supporting global terrorism - as seen in the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina and Interpol's recent call for the arrest of senior Iranian officials in connection with the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires- IRI's pursuit of nuclear weapons, campaign of Holocaust denial are further cause for alarm. In spite of all the legal obstacles, the IRI has been condemned by the United State Federal Court in 2007 for torturing an Iranian citizen as well as Berlin Court in 1997 for assinating the Iranian activists outside Iran.

The Security Council must only be comprised of capable and responsible states and those with substantial and distinguished records of upholding the principles and objectives of the world body. Accepting Iran 's request will shame the UN and will undermine the Council's ability to maintain international peace and security.

As a member of the Security Council, IRI would not only call into question the credibility of the world's most important peace and security body, it would render it impotent. The acceptance of IRI will also damage the credibility of the UNSC. We strongly express our concern and urge the Council to take a responsible stance and send a strong message to IRI officials by preventing this repressive regime from joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.  

Sincerely,

Undersigned

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