Seyed Mostafa Azmayesh

Speech at European Parliament in 2011 at the Conference on Human Rights in Iran

Since the onset of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the growth of extremist ideologies under the name of Islam, Azmayesh has worked to oppose those who propagate extremist ideas based on the false interpretation of Islam.[12] His activities have included talks in the United Nations (UN)[13] as well as an exclusive interview with Ahmed Shaheed,[14] the former United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, along with meetings and interviews with members of the European Parliament, who are responsible for covering the Human Rights issues in Iran.[15][16]

Through scholarly research he has shown that Human Rights principles are compatible with Quranic principles, and according to the Quran, a Muslim civilisation must be based on mutual respect and equality for all, regardless of race, gender or religious beliefs, and there is no place for any kind of violence.[17] His weekly Radio and online TV programmes, such as Dorr TV,[18] along with the satellite channel PARS-TV,[19] put pressure on extremist elements within the Iranian Regime in order to reform the regimes’ radical movements.

For many years, Azmayesh has spoken in opposition of the practice of stoning in Iran. Through research-findings, he proved that there is no relation between Islam and stoning, and his research highlighted how several tyrants throughout history have used stoning punishments for reasons of power and suppression. As of 2011, the practice of stoning is no longer practised in Iran as a result of the years of advocacy by Azmayesh.

In response to the uprising in 2009 following the presidential elections, he supported the Freedom of expression and free speech, and campaigned for the freedom of prominent political prisoners such as Nasrin Sotoudeh (an Iranian female human rights lawyer),[20] Narges Mohammadi, and religious and ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Baha’i and Sufis.[21][22][23][24] He has been influential in the release of numerous Sufis who were imprisoned by the extremist elements in the Iranian Regime as part of its program to suppress minorities. [25][26]

In the face of the rise of Islamist extremism in the West, he has spoken at a series of conferences in England, Germany, UK Parliament and the European Parliament, and published research-based proposals and reports to tackling these growing issues of violence and extremism.[27][28][29][30][31]

Azmayesh co-founded the International Organisation to Preserve Human Rights (IOPHR)[32] in February 2014, in order to continue his efforts to protect human rights for all, counter the rise of Islamist extremism and violence, and continue his advocacy for gender-equality and eliminating gender-based violence.

IOPHR is an active not-for-profit organisation and think tank based in the United Kingdom. It is a research-based organisation, with the aim to preserve human rights for all, and eliminate threats to the safety and security of society.[33] IOPHR conducts conferences in the UK Parliament,[34] European Parliament,[35] and across Europe,[36] working closely with other activists, researchers, academics, public bodies such as the London Metropolitan Police, and other public service officials.