Calls to Exclude Iranian Officials from World Economic Forum
This week, the World Economic Forum (WEF) is under pressure to prevent members of the Iranian government from attending its summit in Davos. The group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) sent a letter to WEF President Borge Brende, urging him not to invite any officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
UANI CEO Mark Wallace, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressed concern over recent reports detailing severe human rights abuses by Iran, including mass killings of civilians directed by the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Despite the request, WEF included an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the event schedule, which UANI criticized. “Hosting officials like Araghchi, who overlook these atrocities, is not just inappropriate but deeply offensive,” Wallace said. He highlighted that this month, Iranian authorities allegedly executed a severe crackdown on civilians protesting, estimating deaths ranging from 12,000 to 20,000.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei recently admitted that numerous lives were lost during the protests but blamed the unrest on external influences, particularly the U.S. U.S.-based organizations estimate the death toll may exceed 3,000 over a span of three weeks, while Iranian officials have not provided an official figure.
As videos surfaced showing Iranian security forces attacking demonstrators, political leaders, including former President Trump, called for a change in Iran’s leadership, emphasizing that true leadership should focus on respect rather than fear.
This situation highlights the ongoing human rights crisis and the international community’s response as tensions rise between Iran and global leaders.
