Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, will no longer attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, after organizers ruled that it would be inappropriate for Iran to be represented amid weeks of deadly protests and a violent crackdown by security forces.
Araghchi had been scheduled to speak on Tuesday at the annual gathering of political and business leaders in the Swiss ski resort.
However, mounting pressure from human rights groups and activists forced organisers to reconsider his participation, following allegations that Iranian authorities carried out mass killings during nationwide demonstrations.
Confirming the decision on Monday, the World Economic Forum said the Iranian foreign minister would not be attending this year’s summit.
Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year, the organisation said in a statement.
Protests broke out across Iran in late December, fueled by widespread anger over economic hardship and deteriorating living conditions.
Observers described the unrest as one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s leadership in recent years.
The demonstrations later subsided following a heavy security crackdown, which coincided with a nationwide communications blackout imposed from January 8.
Norway-based rights group, Iran Human Rights, said it has verified the deaths of 3,428 protesters allegedly killed by Iranian security forces.
The organization said the figures were confirmed through sources within Iran’s health and medical system, eyewitness accounts and other independent channels.
The group warned that the actual death toll could be significantly higher. The figures have not been independently verified by international media organizations, and Iranian authorities have yet to release an official casualty count.
