BY MOSHE HILL OPINION COLUMNS MAY 22 2024
The world received joyous news on Sunday when a helicopter crash resulted in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. At least, the world should have reacted as if this was joyous news. Instead, the moral failure of the world to recognize that this was a good thing exemplifies how backwards many nations are in terms of simple and obvious truths.
For those who don’t know anything about Raisi except the reactions that they see from world leaders, you might think that he was a reformist in Iran that was doing everything he can to bring peace, democracy, and stability to the region. A quick search into ChatGPT would be shocking to anyone who thought that. When asking, “What can you tell me about “Ebrahim Raisi?”, part of the answer was the following:
“His tenure in these roles was marked by a strict interpretation of Islamic law and harsh measures against political dissidents. Raisi was notably involved in the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners, which earned him the nickname ‘The Butcher of Tehran.’ This event remains a significant blemish on his human rights record and has led to international condemnation and sanctions.”
Dicing in further, you’ll see that “Raisi earned this notorious nickname due to his role in the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners in Iran, a period when he was part of a so-called “Death Commission.” This commission was responsible for the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners, mainly members of opposition groups like the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK).”
Compare those quotes to the following expressions of mourning and sadness from around the world. From the U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller: “The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
From the President of the European Union Charles Michel: “The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families.”
NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: “Our condolences to the people of Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash.”
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael MarianoGrossi posted a video of himself with the following message: “I extend my condolences on the tragic passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other delegation members. Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time.” He then held a moment of silence.
He wasn’t the only one. The entire United Nations Security Council, including the American delegation, stood and held a moment of silence and respect for Raisi. Yes, the nations that just shot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones fired at Israel, an ally of the U.S. and the U.K., just mourned the man responsible for the shooting. The countries that lost soldiers directly on Raisi’s orders are devastated by the news of his demise.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan had some words in reaction to the Security Council moment. “This Council, which has done nothing to advance the release of our hostages, commemorates the man responsible for their suffering. What’s next? Will the Council hold a moment of silence for Bin Laden? Will there be a vigil for Hitler? We wouldn’t be surprised.” He then walked around the chambers holding a sign that read, “The Butcher of Tehran will not be missed.”
Erdan is exactly right, of course. The real question is, how can the leaders of these worldwide organizations, including our own State Department and Ambassador, mourn such a terrible person. None of these people will say anything nearly this nice when Donald Trump or Benjamin Netanyahu pass away, hopefully many years from now. How can everything be so backwards?
This is all based on the mistaken belief that all cultures are the same, all are morally equivalent, and there are no “good countries” and “bad countries.” This is why you’ll hear climate activists constantly attack Western nations despite their reducing emissions but not India and China despite their rising emissions. It’s why you see demands of concessions from Israel but never from Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. In order to make an even moral playing field, those who believe in this ridiculous equivalency must push down the morally good while simultaneously lifting up the morally evil.
This is the basic problem with creating a pact between all nations without regard to the fundamental creed of those nations. The United States, for all its flaws, should not be in the same group as 60 other nations that have no concept of human rights or freedoms that we take for granted. Yet we are, and the weak-kneed leaders we have refuse to exercise our moral authority in the hopes that our weakness and conciliation will inspire them to renounce their ways. Of course, it does the opposite. The world is getting worse in the face of Western cowardice, not better.
Do not mourn Ebrahim Raisi. Celebrate his death until the Ayatollah of Iran puts another puppet dictator in to replace him. Better yet, support the people of Iran – who cheered when they heard the news – into an overthrow of this tyrannical regime. The world would be better off if that happened.
