PEJOURNAL – Recognition of Aktion T4 as the most significant systematic massacre of the disabled; “Genocide” and a request to set a day in the United Nation’s calendar to honor the victims of this crime:
To the respected President of the United Nations General Assembly Mr. Abdulla Shahid
The “T4” project began more than 80 years ago in 1939, under the direct command of Adolf Hitler. Today, T4 is regarded as the most significant systematic massacre of the disabled in all of human history. In this project, which was carried out by Nazi Germany with the intention of health and racial reform and saving money, about 300,000 people with various physical and mental disabilities have been killed by multiple methods such as injecting lethal drugs, starvation, and carbon monoxide. Over the past eighty years, various documents have been published and made available.
Given several legal provisions that the United Nations have also ratified, the T4 project is an example of “mass murder and genocide.” Here are the most important legal conditions that testify to this claim:
First. T4 was an organized and large-scale project with the intention of “exterminating all or part of the civilian population.”
Second. According to available documents from Nazi Germany, T4 was carried out with the intention of “preventing the birth and reproduction of a certain group,” “to prevent the generation of the disabled people.”
Third. T4 was carried out with the full knowledge of its perpetrators. With full knowledge and according to a predetermined plan, “they deliberately exposed a group or part of the society to an unfavorable living situation leading to the decline of their general physical strength.” And this is also true in proving this claim because T4 perpetrators, with full awareness, killed the disabled with drugs, starvation, and Carbon monoxide.
The number of available evidence proving this crime is much more than these three cases, but that’s enough to save time. Here is a part of the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948: “…Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind. Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”
It is worth mentioning that the meaning of each word contained in the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on the morning of December 10, 1948, significantly emphasizes the preservation of “human dignity, justice, equality, observance of truth and the concept of humanity.” In this regard, I humbly ask you, Mr. President, to confirm “T4” as the most significant systematic massacre of the disabled in all of human history and announce it as an unforgivable crime. I humbly suggest setting a date to commemorate victims of this horrific crime as a renewed promise to all, and to assure that we are under the protection of the “law” and that the law is a haven for all of us.
According to official global statistics, 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability, but it’s important to note:
If “differences” accept and respect each other in all aspects, there will never be a trace of war, crime, or enmity on Earth. The main point is to understand a simple word that, if not understood, will ruin everything in the world, and that word is:
“The differences”
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is coming up. So, I humbly ask you to honor the memory of the victims of the T4 crime and to remind us all once again that each of us has a disability that is visible only to ourselves. The other part of society whose physical and mental disabilities are visible are different from us in one aspect, and it is that their disabilities are more visible. If not, it can be said that every single person is disabled in some fields. The difference is just in the range and visibility of disability.
I would be pleased with your considerations.
(We sincerely request all organizations, institutions, and international organizations, parties, and mass media that find themselves in line with the content of this letter to join us.)
Dr. Azadeh Abbaszadeh
November 18, 2021
The official representative of Iran in the BILLION STRONG International Organization
The President of Down Syndrome division in Cellular Molecular Research Center at IUMS
The Global ambassador of Down Syndrome Foundation of Mauritius
The Executive Director of Research Center at Ruh Global Impact