#IRGCTerrorists Statement

[Read the statement in Farsi]

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shall be recognized as a terrorist organization to make the world a secure place for everybody. On January 16, let’s come together, stand as one, and hold a rally in Strasbourg, France, to represent Iranians who jeopardize their lives to bring peace to Iran and to the whole world by eliminating the terrorist IRGC as the armed force of the Islamic Regime.

On December 27, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in the USA, The European Union (EU) adopted Council Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism and Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 against certain persons and entities to combat terrorism. Since then, the EU has upheld a list of individuals, groups, and entities subject to the restrictive measures to combat terrorism as outlined by the regulations. However, as we are writing this statement, despite the incessant and vicious acts of the IRGC and its known participation in disturbing the peace and the public security of the Middle East region, it has not yet been identified as a terrorist organization on this list. 

Since the early 1980s, terrorist groups such as Hamas, Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi, and Hezbollah have received funds, equipment, and training from the IRGC. Organizations like Human Rights Watch have documented the IRGC's acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity during the regime's rule, with 684 recorded human rights breaches committed by 370 IRGC members. Also horrifically, on January 8, 2020, the IRGC shot down Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 and murdered 176 innocent passengers and an unborn child. On December 28, 2022, the governments of Canada, Sweden, the UK, and Ukraine sent a diplomatic note to the regime requiring them to bring those responsible for this act of terrorism to justice. 

Human Rights Watch has recorded the IRGC's merciless crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and violations of international human rights law since recent demonstrations in Iran on September 16, 2022. The Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) recorded 13,342 reports of human rights violations conducted by the Islamic Regime in Iran in 2022. Over 23,000 people have been detained and tortured since anti-government demonstrations began in mid-September. According to the reports, 522 innocent civilians were killed, including women and children, during the protests by the IRGC, and more cases are still under investigation. Amnesty International has identified 26 nonviolent revolutionaries who face a high risk of being put to the death penalty; many of them were convicted without the benefit of a lawyer or a fair trial.

It is well overdue that the EU jointly decides to add the IRGC to the list of persons, groups, and entities subject to the Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism to uphold EU commitment to the protection of democracy and humanity. Since then the international community and governments around the world have shown their support by applying sanctions on the Quds Force and a number of IRGC leaders; However, we, as the Iranian Scholars for Liberty, demand the EU parliament to identify the IRGC as a terrorist organization on their list. 

Iranian Scholars for Liberty stands with all the victims and those fighting against this tyrannical regime and the IRGC and believes in its mission of amplifying the voice of the brave people of Iran. 

Jin Jian Azadi

Zan Zendegi Azadi

Woman Life Freedom