New York, NY — This week a group of plaintiffs including high-profile Iranian dissidents and former hostages from the West held in Iran are launching a federal civil case in the Southern District of New York against Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran in anticipation of his travels to New York City to partake in the United Nations General Assembly. The complaint will allege violations of the Torture Victim Protection Act and torture, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery, and false imprisonment.

The plaintiffs, represented by Iranian-American human rights attorney Shahin Milani, include former Shiraz City Councilor Mehdi Hajati, Australian academic and former hostage Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, and academic, Belgian-resident and former hostage Hamid Babaei.

The legal team, plaintiffs, additional victims of Ebrahim Raisi’s crimes and leading experts and activists will host a press conference to discuss the lawsuit in full detail and describe Mr. Raisi’s crimes the day before his address to the UN General Assembly. The press conference will be held at 9:00 AM on Tuesday September 20th at:

Harvard Club of New York City
35 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036

Speakers Include:
Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Mehdi Hajati, and Hamid Babaei (Plaintiffs)
Shahin Milani (Lead Attorney)
Ahmad Batebi (Former political prisoner and Raisi victim)
Navid Mohebbi (Former political prisoner and Raisi victim)

Accredited members of the press are welcome to register by contacting press@nufdiran.org. All questions and press inquiries related to this legal action should be referred to press@nufdiran.org. Members of the press may send in their questions if they are not participating in person.

The lawsuit and the press conference are being supported by NUFDI. This event and lawsuit have no affiliation with Harvard University or the Harvard Club of New York.