Open Letter from Iranian Families of Terror Victims to the UN Secretary-General

Following the tragic terrorist attack in Taftan County in Sistan and Balouchestan province on Saturday, which resulted in the martyrdom of 10 security forces, and the deafening silence of the international community in the face of this heinous crime, Iranian families of terror victims have issued an open letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, as well as the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

The letter reads as follows:

Your Excellencies,

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Pascale Baeriswyl, President of the United Nations Security Council

Philémon Yang, President of the United Nations General Assembly

As you are aware, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, elements of the extremist Jish al-Adl terrorist group attacked two police vehicles in Iran, assassinating 10 officers. The group has claimed responsibility for this heinous act.

Unfortunately, this is not the first terrorist attack in Iran’s Sistan and Balouchestan province this year. Since March 20, 2024 (the beginning of the Persian year), at least 16 terrorist attacks have occurred in this border province, resulting in the death of 54 individuals. Almost all of these attacks have been carried out by the extremist terrorist group, Jaish al-Adl.

The fight against terrorism requires a joint effort from all countries and international organizations. This phenomenon poses a significant challenge to all nations. Terrorism not only targets the security of individual countries but also undermines all international efforts to establish security and peace. To date, 15 international conventions on terrorism and counterterrorism have been drafted and implemented. However, the recurrence of such tragic incidents in our country and the questionable silence of the international community have seriously called into question the effectiveness of these documents. The existence of phenomena such as terrorism necessitates a unified stance from all members of the global community, from governments to international organizations and even influential individuals. Indifference to this phenomenon emboldens terrorists and their supporting states. Therefore, adopting a unified position in response to such events occurring around the world is essential and unavoidable.

Condemning the terrorist attacks in Iran, particularly the heinous incident of October 26th, is a minimal aspect of the global fight against terrorism. Unfortunately, the United Nations and its bodies, including the Security Council, have remained silent on this matter. This silence is tantamount to granting legitimacy to the actions of terrorists and could lead to their perpetuation.

We, the families of the victims of terrorism in Iran, explicitly call upon the Security Council, the United Nations, and its subsidiary bodies, as well as other international organizations, to fulfill their duties and commitments in the global fight against terrorism by condemning the tragic terrorist incident of October 26th in Iran, which resulted in the death of 10 police officers, and by adopting an equitable approach towards all countries of the world.

Respectfully,

Habilian Association (Iranian Families of Terror Victims)