The Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing and confronting individuals, organizations, and entities that defend, excuse, or promote the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in the West. Founded by a coalition of activists, scholars, and human rights defenders, AAIRIA seeks to challenge the narratives that whitewash the regime’s history of human rights abuses, corruption, and oppression.

Our organization was formed to shine a light on those who serve as apologists for the IRI, whether through academic institutions, media outlets, or political lobbying. We are committed to holding these enablers accountable, raising public awareness, and advocating for justice on behalf of the victims of the regime’s atrocities. We believe in amplifying the voices of the oppressed and defending universal human rights while fighting against the misinformation that allows the IRI to maintain its influence abroad.

AAIRIA’s campaigns have led to significant achievements, including removing Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, a former Iranian ambassador to the UN, from Oberlin College after years of advocacy. We continue our efforts by working to expose other individuals with ties to the regime, like Seyed Hossein Mousavian, and by pushing for greater scrutiny of those who seek to promote the Islamic Republic’s agenda.

We believe our work is in the best interests of the United States and its national security. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, with the blood of both Americans and Iranians on its hands. Our mission is to protect Americans from the IRI’s propaganda and its attempts to infiltrate and manipulate public opinion in the West.

With a clear mission to end the apologetic narratives surrounding the IRI, AAIRIA remains steadfast in its commitment to truth, justice, and the protection of human rights for all.

The Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) was formed to challenge the apologists of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) who have played a role in concealing its human rights violations and spreading propaganda. Among the countless atrocities committed by the regime, the 1988 massacre of political prisoners stands out as one of the most egregious crimes. Over just six weeks, thousands of political prisoners—many of whom had already been sentenced and imprisoned for non-violent political activities—were subjected to sham re-trials by so-called “Death Commissions.” These commissions, acting under a fatwa issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, sentenced prisoners to execution based on mere moments of interrogation about their beliefs. Ayatollah Montazeri, then Iran’s second-in-command, estimated that at least 3,800 were killed, though many believe the actual number to be far higher.

This massacre, now recognized as a crime against humanity by numerous organizations, including Amnesty International, has been systematically denied by Iranian officials, including those in prominent positions of power in the West. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Iran Tribunal have all condemned the regime’s ongoing denial and attempts to cover up the massacre.

One of the most troubling examples of this denial is the role of Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations from 1987 to 1989, who repeatedly denied the mass executions in meetings with the UN. Instead of using his position to raise awareness or call for an end to the killings, Mahallati denied the reports and propagated the false narrative that these executions were battlefield casualties. This blatant misrepresentation of the facts led to his complicity in covering up crimes against humanity.

In 2021, Ebrahim Raisi, one of the members of the Death Committees responsible for sending political prisoners to their deaths, was elected President of Iran. Raisi’s rise to power, despite his known involvement in the massacre, highlights the regime’s disregard for international human rights norms. In parallel, the trial of Hamid Nouri, a former IRI official, in Sweden further brought the 1988 massacre into the spotlight. Nouri was arrested in 2019 for his role in facilitating the executions. During his trial, both current and former IRI leaders confirmed the massacre’s occurrence and took pride in their involvement. This was a shocking yet significant moment, as it provided undeniable evidence that the IRI leadership not only acknowledges the atrocity but also celebrates it.

Despite Mahallati’s documented involvement in this cover-up, he was appointed to a prestigious academic position at Oberlin College. This appointment flies in the face of Oberlin’s commitment to justice and human rights, and it has shocked those who know of Mahallati’s past. AAIRIA’s campaign successfully led to Mahallati’s removal from Oberlin, but this is just one battle in our broader mission.

Our work is far from over. We are a coalition of human rights activists, former political prisoners, families of victims, and international jurists dedicated to exposing those who continue to apologize for the IRI’s crimes. We believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not just a threat to the Iranian people, but to the international community. As a state sponsor of terrorism, the IRI has the blood of both Americans and Iranians on its hands, and AAIRIA’s mission is to protect the American public from IRI propaganda and its attempts to whitewash history.

We continue to push for justice and accountability for the regime’s crimes, and we remain committed to ensuring that those who have helped cover up these atrocities are held accountable. We invite everyone to join us in the fight for truth, justice, and human rights.