Petrelis Files

Condoleezza Must End Silence About Iran's Gay Executions

[Dear Friends:

It's been a week since Iran killed two gay teens and the U.S. State Department has yet to say a word about the deaths.

I am asking for your help in persuading the State Department and Secretary Rice to loudly condemn Iran's stupidity. Please do one or more of the following suggestions.

CALL
Secretary Rice: 202-647-5291
Henry T. Wooster, State Dept. Iran desk: 202-647-0114

FAX
Secretary Rice: 202-647-2283

EMAIL
Secretary Rice: Send an email to Madame Secretary

Here's a copy of the letter I've sent to Secretary Rice and hope you will send a similar request to her today. I've also called her office and the assistant in charge of Iranian issues, leaving messages asking them to publicly deplore Iran's killing of two gays.

Please contact the State Department and demand this agency speak out about the tragic execution of two gays in Iran last week. Thanks.]
^^^



July 26, 2005

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
State Department
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madame Secretary:

Iran executed two gay teens on July 19, sparking worldwide condemnation by gay and human rights organizations of these barbaric state-sanctioned killings, according to a story in the Times of London last week.
[1]

In light of the outrageous hanging of these gay Iranian teens and our country's commitment to protecting the human rights of all the world's citizens, I believe you have a responsibility to strongly and unequivocally deplore the executions by the Iranian government.

I wish to remind you of your comments about persecution of gays and the denial of basic human rights for gays around the world during a May 27 talk in San Francisco at the Commonwealth Club:
MS. DUFFY [moderator]: Moving on from Iraq, let's talk about human rights a bit. We are here in San Francisco and there's a question, what are you doing to ensure that countries like China and Egypt uphold the civil rights of its gay citizens, of their gay citizens?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, obviously, from our point of view, a democratic and tolerant society is exactly that. It is a society in which all people are included. It does not matter what race, what gender, it does not matter what sexual orientation -- all that matters is that you are a citizen of that country. And indeed, we note that in countries that are democratic, in countries where there can be pressure on government, in countries where there can be checks and balances on government, then the rights and -- the rights of the most vulnerable in society tend to be more protected. And so we are concentrating in places like China and in Egypt and in other places on human rights. Whenever we have discussions with these countries, we talk about human rights. And the United States issues something called a Human Rights Report every year that talks about the human rights conditions in each country and so -- very much in line with the notion that every citizen needs to be represented and rights protected. We believe that this is the way to handle this situation. [2]

While I am pleased you expressed deep concern for gay citizens everywhere, I am very troubled that you have yet to issue any statements, comments, denunciations or criticisms against Iran over the immoral death by hanging of two gay teens.

Please end your silence about Iran's killing of the gay teens, forcefully condemn the executions and call attention to this despicable behavior by the Iranian government.

Sincerely,

Michael Petrelis

San Francisco, CA

Sources:
1. Times of London
2. Rice's May 27 remarks