We, members of the Iranian diaspora and allies committed to truth, accountability, and genuine peace, write to urgently request the cancellation of the January 30 event titled “Iran, the US, and Israel: How Did We Get Here?”, sponsored by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the Massachusetts Peace Action Education Fund.

This request is not made lightly. It is grounded in a well-documented and ongoing pattern in which NIAC has consistently whitewashed the actions of the Islamic Regime, minimized state violence against the Iranian people, and reframed systemic repression as merely “economic” or “policy” disagreements. This selective presentation of facts distorts reality and contributes—intentionally or not—to the propaganda objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
Similar events with the same framing and participants have been held at institutions such as UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) and Yale, demonstrating a clear and repeatable pattern: providing platforms that sanitize or excuse the Islamic Republic’s record of terror, repression, and human rights violations. This is not academic balance; it is narrative engineering.

At a moment when people inside Iran have lost their voices due to state-imposed digital blackouts, censorship, and violence, the responsibility borne by institutions outside Iran is heightened. Who is given a platform matters—especially now.

Freedom of Speech vs. Institutional Responsibility
We firmly believe in freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech does not absolve institutions of ethical responsibility for whom they amplify. Providing a prestigious platform to organizations that have never represented the Iranian people—and that have repeatedly undermined their struggle—actively harms those whose voices are being silenced inside the country.

The Iranian diaspora is not asking for censorship. We are demanding accountability.

Damage to MAPA’s Credibility
MAPA presents itself as an institution dedicated to peace. Yet lending its credibility and platform to NIAC—given NIAC’s record—directly undermines MAPA’s integrity and stated mission. Peace cannot be built on the erasure of victims or the normalization of state terror.

Further, public reaction has made the community’s position unmistakably clear. The comments left by concerned individuals under the event’s promotional posts expressed strong opposition. The subsequent deletion of these comments from the @masspeaceaction Instagram page only reinforces the perception that dissenting voices are being deliberately silenced—mirroring the very censorship Iranians face under the regime this event helps legitimize.

Our Demand
We, the undersigned, urgently request the cancellation of this event.

If MAPA and its partners choose to proceed despite widespread and vocal opposition from the Iranian community, it will:

• Cause lasting harm to MAPA’s credibility as a peace-oriented institution
• Signal indifference to the voices of Iranians whose lives are directly affected
• Compel us to escalate this matter through broader public, academic, and organizational channels

This is a critical moment. Institutions must choose whether they stand with the people of Iran—or with narratives that excuse their oppression.

We ask you to act responsibly and cancel this event.