'Shame on you!': Iranian activist Alinejad blasts EU leaders over ties with Iranian regime at Geneva

Key Concepts

• Islamic Republic of Iran: The current political system in Iran, characterized as a murderous regime by the speaker.
• Revolutionary Guard (IRGC): A military organization within Iran responsible for significant human rights abuses, recently designated as a terrorist organization by some nations.
• Rouhani/Raisi: Iranian presidents characterized as “killers” and “deformists” despite being labeled as “reformists” by the international community.
• Compulsory Hijab: A law in Iran requiring women to cover their hair, protested against by the speaker and others.
• Victims vs. Dictators: The central theme of the speech, questioning the United Nations’ alignment with either the Iranian people or the ruling regime.
• International Response: Criticism of the delayed and insufficient response from Western nations and the United Nations to the Iranian government’s actions.

The Iranian Crisis and Condemnation of International Inaction

The speaker delivers a passionate and urgent plea regarding the ongoing crisis in Iran, stating that 40,000 people have been killed in the country within the past 24 hours. This figure serves as the central, shocking claim driving the entire address. She expresses disbelief and outrage that representatives of the Iranian regime, “killers” seen wearing expensive brands like Gucci, are present at the United Nations, and that international leaders shake their hands. She states, “I cannot believe how come the leaders of European countries do not feel guilty by shaking the hand of those Islamic Republic officials full of blood. Shame on you.”

Three Criticisms of the United Nations

The speaker outlines three specific criticisms of the United Nations’ handling of the situation in Iran:

1. Congratulatory Letter: The Secretary-General of the United Nations sent a congratulatory letter to the Islamic Republic on the anniversary of its establishment, which the speaker views as siding with the oppressors rather than the victims. She points to the presence of victims – women injured by the Revolutionary Guard – as evidence of who the UN should be supporting.
2. Appointment of Oppressor: A woman previously responsible for oppressing women in Iran has been appointed to a position overseeing women’s rights globally. The speaker frames this as an insult not just to Iranians, but to all citizens of democratic countries, suggesting a betrayal of fundamental human rights principles.
3. Invitation of Arachi: Despite a petition of 300,000 signatures calling for his exclusion, Arachi, described as a “low class killer” who stole a pen during negotiations with the United States, has been invited to speak at the UN. He is scheduled to address the assembly in seven days.

Current Atrocities in Iran

The speaker details the ongoing atrocities occurring in Iran, including:

• Storming of Hospitals: Security forces are reportedly raiding hospitals to finish off injured protestors.
• Arrest of Medical Personnel: Doctors and nurses are being arrested for providing care to protestors.
• Political Prisoners & Executions: Political prisoners are being sentenced to death and executed.
• Suppression of Dissent: The regime continues to violently suppress any form of opposition.

Critique of Western Response & Calls for Action

The speaker strongly criticizes the West’s delayed response to the Iranian government’s actions. She argues that the West “waited too long” to address the issue of compulsory hijab and to designate the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization (seven years after the US did so). She emphasizes that this delay has cost 40,000 lives. She states, “THAT DOESN'T CALL YOU ISLAMOPHOBIC IF you treat ISIS the way that deserve to be.”

She urges the international community to:

• Cut Ties with Killers: Stop cutting hair in solidarity and instead sever all ties with the Iranian regime.
• Designate IRGC as Terrorists: Immediately designate the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
• Host a Peace Conference: Geneva should host a peace conference inviting Iranian opposition leaders and European leaders to discuss a future Iran without the Islamic Republic.

Personal Testimony & Emotional Appeal

The speaker shares her personal anguish, stating she feels “ashamed” to be alive while her sister and others suffer injuries at the hands of the regime. She expresses feelings of guilt, sleeplessness, and inability to eat due to the suffering of her people. She declares her intention to leave Geneva, even if it means being “kicked out forever,” because she cannot remain silent. She concludes with a plea for solidarity with Iranians, Venezuelans, and Belarusians, emphasizing the need to “stop the massacre and kick this killers from Europe, from everywhere.”

Technical Terms & Concepts

• Islamic Republic: A form of government based on religious law (Sharia) and ruled by clerics.
• Revolutionary Guard (IRGC): An elite military organization in Iran responsible for protecting the Islamic Republic and suppressing internal dissent.
• Islamophobia: Prejudice, discrimination, or hatred directed at Islam or Muslims. The speaker argues that legitimate criticism of the Iranian regime is not Islamophobic.
• Diplomacy: The art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states. The speaker criticizes the continued diplomatic engagement with the Iranian regime despite its human rights abuses.

Logical Connections

The speech follows a clear logical progression: it begins with a shocking statistic (40,000 deaths), then details specific criticisms of the UN, outlines current atrocities, critiques the West’s response, and concludes with a passionate personal appeal and call to action. Each point builds upon the previous one, reinforcing the speaker’s central argument that the international community is failing to adequately address the crisis in Iran.

Data & Statistics

• 40,000 deaths: Claimed number of people killed in Iran in the past 24 hours.
• 1,500 deaths: Number of people killed by Rouhani’s regime.
• 300,000 signatures: Number of signatures on a petition to prevent Arachi from speaking at the UN.
• 7 years: The delay in designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization by some Western nations after the US did so.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker’s address is a powerful indictment of the Iranian regime and a scathing critique of the international community’s response. She argues that the UN is failing to uphold its principles by engaging with a murderous regime and that Western nations have been too slow to take decisive action. Her personal testimony and emotional appeal underscore the urgency of the situation and the desperate need for solidarity with the Iranian people. The core message is a demand for accountability, justice, and a fundamental shift in the international approach to Iran – one that prioritizes the rights of the victims over the appeasement of dictators.