In the shadowy corridors of power in Tehran, a sinister campaign is unfolding, one that not only seeks to silence dissent but aims to obliterate the very memory of those who dared to challenge the oppressive regime.
The Iranian authorities have escalated their systematic efforts to erase evidence of past atrocities by demolishing Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran, the grave site long identified as the final resting place of thousands of executed political prisoners from the 1980s. Reports now confirm that heavy machinery was deployed on August 11 this year, that trees were cut down, vegetation burned, and that the area was sealed off under armed guard. One week later, on August 19, the Deputy Mayor of Tehran, Davoud Goodarzi, admitted that the location had been converted into a parking lot, with formal “permission” from officials.
For decades, the main democratic opposition organisation, Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), has stood as a symbol of resistance against tyranny, representing the hopes and aspirations of countless Iranians yearning for freedom and democracy. In the 1980s, the regime unleashed a brutal campaign of executions against political opponents, and Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra became a sombre testament to those lost lives. Each grave in that section once told a story, narratives of courage, sacrifice, and the unyielding pursuit of justice. By destroying this sacred ground, the Iranian regime is not merely attempting to erase history; it is sending a clear message that dissent will not be tolerated and that the truth will be buried alongside the victims.
In a country where serious human-rights violations have occurred, mass or collective graves serve more than a burial site; they offer invaluable insights into the nature and scale of those crimes and provide a vehicle for truth and closure for victims’ families. When such sites are unprotected, ignored, or obstructed, the opportunity for societal healing and justice remains elusive. The recent documentation shows that Section 41 is estimated to have contained between 5,000 and 7,000, possibly up to 9,500, graves.
On August 19, Deputy Mayor Goodarzi brazenly admitted that the site has been repurposed into a car park: “Section 41 was just left like that… we needed a parking lot… we got permission and did it.” Such authorization can only have come from the highest authorities. Some reports attribute direct orders to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Goodarzi also referred contemptuously to those buried there using the regime’s pejorative label for the MEK: “the hypocrites.” This act of obliteration is not only a violation of the dignity due to the deceased but also an affront to humanity itself. The international community has a moral obligation to respond swiftly and decisively.
On September 29, the United Nations sent a strongly worded letter to the Iranian government, signed by no fewer than five special rapporteurs encompassing the field of Human Rights. The letter expressed severe concern over “the destruction and desecration of the mass grave site in Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran.” The letter concluded: “By destroying the site, the authorities would not only eliminate physical traces of political executions but also obstruct mourning of the family, block efforts aimed at truth and accountability and suppress public memory.” The U.N. special rapporteurs ended the letter by stating: “While awaiting a reply, we urge that all necessary interim measures be taken to halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence and in the event that the investigations support or suggest the allegations to be correct, to ensure the accountability of any person(s) responsible for the alleged violations.”
The U.N. knows that this is far from an isolated incident. Over decades, the regime has systematically desecrated or destroyed burial sites of victims from the 1980s across Iran, from Khavaran, Mashhad, Ahvaz, to Tabriz, in a concerted effort to obliterate historical evidence. In his 2024 report, the former U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Professor Javaid Rehman, described the 1981 and 1988 massacres of political prisoners as constituting genocide and crimes against humanity, and he urged states to invoke universal jurisdiction to hold the perpetrators accountable.
The U.N. has adopted key resolutions concerning the investigation of mass graves. These reflect a global consensus that such crimes must be properly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. Moreover, the U.N. should support Iranian activists and human-rights organizations who are relentlessly documenting the regime’s atrocities. Truth-seeking must not be optional. It must be assured to honor the victims and to empower the living in their quest for justice and accountability. The memory of those buried in Section 41 must not disappear. It must serve as a rallying cry for all who believe in the fundamental rights of individuals to speak freely and live without fear.
As we witness this assault on memory and justice, let us also remember that the struggle for human rights in Iran is far from over. The Iranian people and their brave Resistance Units affiliated with the MEK remain resilient, and their quest for freedom endures. It is our duty to stand in solidarity with them, to amplify their voices, and to ensure that history remembers the sacrifices made in the name of liberty. Let us not be silent in the face of tyranny. The flattening and repurposing of Section 41 demands our outrage, our action, and our unwavering commitment to the principles of justice and human rights. The U.N. and the global community must now press ahead with demands for full accountability from the Iranian regime.
Struan Stevenson was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014). He was President of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and Chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup in the European Parliament (2004-14). He is an author and international lecturer on the Middle East.