New campaign launched: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/iran-black-november/

Since our last update, the Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted lives across the globe.  The situation in Iran is reported to be dire.  Here, ‘lockdown’ has delayed progress somewhat.

Nevertheless, we are delighted that “Ending Impunity Limited” (EIL), a non-profit company, has been incorporated, and funds have been applied to start-up activities.  EIL’s Articles of Association stipulate that it is charitable company and that the directors do not receive a salary.

A second fundraising round has been launched here to support urgent new cases, and EIL’s mission going forward.

What we are doing

Our substantive work on the Noury case has all but finished, as Swedish prosecutors and war crimes investigators take it forward.  Noury is detained pending trial.  We keep a ‘watching brief’ and await news of a trial date.

Thanks to your generous support, EIL has been set up, charity lawyers have been instructed to apply for Charity Commission registration, and external accountants have been retained.  We are working on EIL’s strategic plan, and compliance procedures and protocols.  Appointment of additional directors will bring strength and diversity to the board.  In the coming months, we will assemble an expert advisory committee, and will launch EIL’s website and social media channels.

EIL’s Objects

EIL’s objects reflect our mission to end impunity for international crimes and human rights violations, including by 

• monitoring and pursuing justice for violations of international law, criminal law, and human rights;
• obtaining redress for, and relieving need amongst, victims of persecution, crimes, and human rights abuses;
• commenting on human rights laws, and providing technical advice to governmental and non-governmental entities;
• conducting research on, and promoting respect for, international law, human rights and the rule of law;
• international advocacy against legal impunity and for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Call to action

There is much work to do.  We have been approached about numerous new cases, alleging serious human rights violations, some of which warrant urgent investigation.

A second fundraising round has been launched, to support these new investigations.  Any residue will be transferred to EIL’s general fund, to realise its longer-term objectives.

Details of the new fund are here.  Please spread the word about this campaign, and EIL’s mission to end impunity!

News and updates

This fund page is closed to donations.  We will post updates periodically.

When we launched our Crowd Justice campaign, our target was to raise £30,000 within 30 days.  We are delighted to share with you the good news that we have exceeded that target.  We can now set up the foundation.  We are already working on active and new cases.

We have received numerous messages of support, as well as direct reports from victims, relatives and survivors of alleged grave violations of international law by the Iranian regime and its proxies.  Especially to those people, we are deeply grateful to you for placing your trust in us.

What can you do?

Please continue to share this page and spread the word about our fundraising campaign.  With new grave allegations emerging on a daily basis, there is no doubt that the funds are much needed, so the foundation can pursue justice and accountability.  The Crowd Justice fund remains open for donations.  We have extended our target to £60,000.  All funds raised will go directly to supporting the establishment of the foundation and our work on active investigations and cases.

What are we doing?

As well as working on the case that resulted in Noury’s arrest in Sweden in November, we continue to work on other active cases.  Now, with the funds already generously donated, we can set up the non-profit foundation. We will incorporate the foundation as a non-profit company, with a board of director-trustees. A strategic plan will be adopted setting out the foundation’s aims and objectives.  We will be looking into registration with the Charity Commission for England & Wales.

The foundation will, by complying with UK legal requirements to file corporate reports and accounts, be transparent and accountable.  These objectives and obligations will be balanced with the need to respect due process, legal confidentiality and data protection laws, and vital protection of vulnerable witnesses and victims in legal cases.

News and updates

In due course, we will post further information about the launch of the foundation, including the foundation's name, and details of its web and social media platforms.  We will invite those donors who are interested to opt-in to receiving regular updates about the foundation’s work.

Thank you once again for your generous support.