By Iran Probe Staff
Sunday, 4 March 2018
text of the statement:
The world must stand alongside the brave people who have risen against the dictatorship ruling Iran
The arrestees must be freed, and free expression and freedom of assembly and communication must be guaranteed
At the same time as the New Year began, the world witnessed a massive uprising of the oppressed people of Iran in order to obtain their violated rights.
In a few days, the uprising spread to more than one hundred cities. People rushed into the street and expressed their legitimate demands; those who are tired of poverty, unemployment, repression and crime over the course of four decades of religious dictatorship. However, the Iranian regime responded by killing dozens and arresting thousands of demonstrators. Seven of the detainees died in prison after being tortured and mistreated by security forces.
Regime’s “Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei emphasized that an active triangle was the source of the uprising: The United States, a Persian Gulf state, and the "Mojahedin Organization (PMOI) who organized several months ago a call on the people. They did call on them. The also chanted the slogan "No to high prices" to attract a few, and this way have the people follow them ... " Khamenei ordered to deal with the arrested supporters of the PMOI violently.
This was not, of course, the first time that the people’s demands and protests were suppressed. In 2009, the demonstrations of millions of people in Tehran and other cities led to severe crackdowns. In this regard, 44 Nobel laureates wrote in their statement:
“In the name of conscience and honor, we appeal to the leaders of the international community to do what is needed to help these courageous fighters who risk their lives standing up to their government’s immoral, inhuman and illegal official policy.”
Now, we the undersigned Nobel laureates tell the Iranian regime and its leader, Ali Khamenei: Enough is enough! The world is watching you. The free world will not allow you to deprive tens of millions of people of their right to freedom, the right to expression, and the right to life. The national wealth of Iran must be spent on the well-being and security of the Iranian people. The arrestees should be released immediately.
We deplore the violent and oppressive tactics the current regime is using to dissuade protestors from expressing their right to free speech. These tactics must be stopped quickly.
All of us who care must offer our full support and solidarity to the brave people of Iran.
They deserve nothing less.
Signatories:
Georg Bednorz, Nobel Prize, Physics (1987)
Thomas Cech, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1989)
Elias J. Corey, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1990)
Richard Ernst, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1991)
Gerhard Ertl, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2007)
Edmond H. Fischer, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1992)
Jerome I. Friedman, Nobel Prize, Physics (1990)
Sheldon L. Glashow, Nobel Prize, Physics (1979)
Robert H. Grubbs, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2005)
Roger Guillemin, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1977)
John L. Hall, Nobel Prize, Physics (2005)
Oliver D. Hart, Nobel Prize, Economics (2016)
Alan J. Heeger, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2000)
Dudley R. Herschbakh, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986)
Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2001)
Eric Kandel, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000)
Roger D. Kornberg, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2006)
Finn Kydland, Nobel Prize, Economics (2004)
Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Prize, Physics (1988)
Eric Maskin, Nobel Prize, Economics (2007)
John C. Mather, Nobel Prize, Physics (2006)
May-Britt Moser, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2014)
Edvard Moser, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2014)
John C. Polanyi, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986)
Richard J. Roberts, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1993)
Michael Rosbash, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2017)
Dan Shechtman, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2011)
Randy Schekman, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2013)
Richard R. Schrock, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2005)
Hamilton Smith, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1978)
Thomas A. Steitz, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2009)
Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1979)
David Wineland, Nobel Prize, Physics (2012)
