Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan called the moment of silence held for the late President Ebrahim Raisi at the UN Security Council a "disgrace."
Video: X/@giladerdan1
The request for the somber tribute came from the Russian, Chinese, and Algerian UN missions during a Security Council session on preventing an arms race in outer space. Mozambique's Ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso, presiding over the council this month, called upon the members to stand and observe the moment of silence in remembrance of Raisi and the other crash victims.
Notably, Robert Wood, the US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, was among the officials who stood for the solemn observance. Erdan held a sign that read "The Butcher of Iran will not be missed." In a video on X, Erdan stated: "The UN Security Council observed a moment of silence today in memory of the mass murdering Iranian President Raisi. This council, which has taken no real steps to advance the release of our hostages, bowed its head for a man responsible for massacring and murdering thousands in Iran, Israel, and around the world! What is next? Will the council dedicate a moment of silence to commemorate Hitler? The Security Council has become a threat to global peace and security."
One brave man, Ambassador Gilad Erdan,@giladerdan1
Vs.
Many coward clowns at the UN Secretary Council, holding a moment of silence for the death of President Raisi known as "Butcher of Tehran." pic.twitter.com/wqcm7qlt0f
— Marziyeh Amirizadeh مرضیه امیری زاده (@MAmirizadeh) May 20, 2024
Raisi had earned the chilling moniker "Butcher of Tehran" for his involvement in the execution of thousands of Iranian protesters during the 1980s, casting a dark shadow over his presidential legacy. Raisi's tenure as President was further marred by widespread protests against the oppressive Iranian regime, sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Amini, a woman arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, died in police custody, igniting nationwide demonstrations. Authorities ruthlessly suppressed these protests, resulting in at least 500 casualties and tens of thousands of arrests, according to reports.
Moreover, The Wall Street Journal has reported that Raisi played a pivotal role in the planning of the October 7 massacre, a horrific atrocity carried out by the terrorist organization Hamas, an Iranian proxy group. This devastating tragedy, considered the largest massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, claimed the lives of over 1,200 individuals and led to the kidnapping of more than 250 hostages, who were taken to Gaza.
The United States had previously imposed sanctions on Raisi in 2019 for human rights violations, including the executions he oversaw in the 1980s. The moment of silence observed at the UN Security Council has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, highlighting the controversial legacy of the former Iranian President and the complex dynamics surrounding his remembrance on the global stage.
