Nikki Haley: We Will Be Calling for an Emergency Session Over Iran Protests

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Aaron Bandler

January 2, 2018

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Nikki Haley, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, voiced her support for the protesters in Iran on Tuesday and added that the United States will be calling for a United Nations emergency session on the matter.

Speaking at a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, Haley praised the protesters for standing up to the “oppression of their own government.”

“It takes great bravery for the Iranian people to use the power of their voice against their government, especially when their government has a long history of murdering its own people who dare to speak the truth,” said Haley, “so we applaud the tremendous courage of the Iranian people.”

Haley pointed out that the Iranian regime has blocked off social media in an attempt to silence their protests, so Haley shared some of the messages from the protesters, which included:

· “Political prisoners must be freed!”

· “Let go of Syria, think of us!”

· “We will die, but we’ll take Iran back!”

Haley called the Iranian regime’s spin that the protests were manufactured by Iran’s enemies “complete nonsense.”

“The demonstrations are completely spontaneous,” said Haley. “They are virtually in every city in Iran. This is the precise picture of a long-oppressed people rising up against their dictators.”

Haley called for the U.N. to “speak out” against the Iranian regime for murdering and jailing numerous protesters.

“In the days ahead, we will be calling for an emergency session, both here in New York and at the Human Rights Council in Geneva,” said Haley. “We must not be silent. The people of Iran are crying out for freedom. All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause.”

Haley’s full speech can be seen below:

The protests in Iran against the mullahs in Tehran have been going for several days and have permeated throughout the country. Around 20 protesters have been murdered by the Iranian regime and over 450 have been arrested. The regime is also shutting down schools in response to the protests.