On International Human Rights Day, French President Sarkozi said:
“How is it that a people such as the Iranian people – one of the world’s greatest peoples, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, sophisticated, cultured, open – have the misfortune of being represented as they are today by some of their leaders?”
In response, Nazanin Afshin-Jam wrote a letter to President Sarkozi:
“To the Honourable President Sarkozi,
Happy 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As an Iranian-born Canadian, I would like to thank you for making the distinction between Iranian citizens and the leaders in power who do not represent their voices. More leaders like you should take a stand and refuse to collaborate with officials of this
un-democratic repressive regime that violates the rights of Iranians on a daily basis.
Please also pressure Iran to Stop Child Executions.There are currently over 140 children on death row in Iran despite the fact that Iran has signed the UN’s ICCPR and CRC.
Vive la liberté, l’égalité, et la fraternité
Nazanin Afshin-Jam
President and Co Founder
Stop Child Executions
cc: Monsieur le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères
Bernard Kouchner
37 quai d’Orsay
75007 Paris
France
Source of Mr. Sarkozi’s comments