#FireMahallati Campaign

The Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) spearheaded the #FireMahallati campaign starting in October 2020, demanding justice and accountability for the victims of the 1988 massacre in Iran and calling for the removal of Mohammad Jafar Mahallati from his position at Oberlin College. Mahallati, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations between 1987 and 1989, played a key role in concealing the mass executions of political prisoners orchestrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. In November 2023, Mahallati was removed from his posts at Oberlin College, and his name and all credentials were removed from the college’s website.

Background: The 1988 Massacre

The Islamic Republic of Iran has committed numerous human rights violations over its 40-year history, but the mass killing of political prisoners in the summer of 1988 stands out for its depravity. Based on a fatwa issued by Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, thousands of political prisoners were subjected to “re-trials” that lasted only minutes, overseen by what became known as “Death Commissions.” These commissions condemned prisoners, many of whom had already served years in prison, to execution based solely on questions about their political or religious beliefs.

Estimates suggest that at least 3,800 prisoners were hanged during this period, though the true number is likely higher. Amnesty International calls these killings “ongoing crimes against humanity,” and numerous human rights organizations have documented the systematic nature of the massacre.

Mahallati’s Role in the Cover-up

During this time, Mohammad Jafar Mahallati was Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Amnesty International and other reports reveal that Mahallati actively denied the executions, dismissed credible reports of the massacre, and obfuscated the Iranian regime’s responsibility. He presented the massacre as battlefield casualties and labeled opposition reports as “propaganda.” In truth, many of those executed were non-violent political prisoners who had already completed their sentences. Mahallati’s actions played a significant role in covering up the massacre on an international scale.

In an interview on VOA Farsi with Masih Alinejad, Mahallati continued denying the extent of the atrocities. His blatant lies during the interview triggered Amnesty International to write a new report about the role of IRI diplomats in covering up the Islamic Republic’s crimes. The report further highlighted Mahallati’s involvement in the cover-up and was based on information provided by AAIRIA.

Our Campaign: #FireMahallati

AAIRIA, along with families of executed political prisoners, Oberlin College students and alumni, and concerned citizens, initiated the #FireMahallati campaign, seeking the following from Oberlin College:

1. Review the hiring and tenure process of Mahallati to investigate whether human rights organizations were consulted or whether available information about his involvement in the 1988 massacre was ignored.
2. Remove Mohammad Jafar Mahallati from his position at Oberlin College.
3. Issue an apology to the victims of the 1988 massacre and their families for hiring and promoting a person involved in covering up crimes against humanity.

In addition, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi wrote a letter to Oberlin College demanding the removal of Mahallati, which was also signed by Ladan Broumand (human rights activist and co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation) and Azar Nafisi (author of Reading Lolita in Tehran and a prominent scholar). On November 11, 2021, renowned human rights advocate Natan Sharansky also urged Oberlin College to fire Mahallati, further amplifying calls for his removal.

Campaign Milestones and Advocacy

Over the course of 3.5 years, we engaged in strategic actions, protests, and advocacy efforts to raise awareness of Mahallati’s involvement in the 1988 massacre and to press Oberlin College for accountability. Here are some key milestones:

• Protests at Oberlin College: Organized protests on November 3, 2021; March 5, 2022; June 5, 2022; and May 2023 called on the college to terminate Mahallati’s employment. These protests garnered national and international attention, shedding light on the atrocities Mahallati helped cover-up.
• Global Advocacy: We expanded our campaign globally, staging protests in Berlin, London, Washington DC, Atlanta, Orange County, New York, and San Francisco in 2022. These protests were held at the business locations of Oberlin College’s board members, demanding accountability from the college’s leadership.
• Action at Columbia University: When Mahallati sought a position as a visiting scholar, our campaign successfully pressured Columbia to halt the appointment, preventing Mahallati from advancing his academic career.
• Media Exposure: Through diligent efforts, we uncovered businesses in Iran linked to Mahallati, which were exposed by The Jerusalem Post in articles written by journalist Benjamin Weinthal. This led to the removal of Mahallati’s name from websites, including those of prestigious institutions.
• Student Boycott: Oberlin College students initiated a boycott of Mahallati’s classes, forcing the college to cancel his courses and place him on administrative duties.
• Amnesty International Report: In February 2022, Amnesty International released a report implicating Mahallati in the cover-up of the 1988 massacre. This report validated our campaign’s findings, and Amnesty mentioned that they had received U.S. newspaper copies from AAIRIA, which were critical to the report.
• Congressional Involvement: In September 2022, two Republican lawmakers initiated an inquiry into Mahallati’s ties to terrorism and his involvement in covering up the massacre, amplifying the call for an investigation into foreign influence in American academia.
• Meetings with U.S. Lawmakers: In March and April 2023, we met with 15 U.S. Senators and nine Ohio lawmakers, advocating for an investigation into Mahallati’s ties to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Workshops and Event Disruptions: When Mahallati organized workshops as part of his administrative duties, we successfully persuaded three out of four guests to cancel their appearances, sending a clear message of solidarity with the victims’ families.

Victory: Mahallati Removed

After 3.5 years of persistent advocacy, we achieved a significant victory when Mahallati’s name was removed from Oberlin College’s website, and he was placed on permanent leave. This marks a decisive moment in our campaign, demonstrating the power of sustained public pressure and the demand for accountability.

Next Steps

While this is a major victory, we remain committed to seeking full justice. Our next step is to ensure that Oberlin College formally apologizes to the victims and their families and reviews its hiring practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The #FireMahallati campaign underscores our dedication to justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre and holding individuals accountable for their complicity in crimes against humanity.