Seoul National University Professor of Iranian Origin Urges South Korea to Amplify Voices of Iranian Society

A Seoul National University Professor of Iranian Origin Urges
"South Korea Can Demand Nuclear Inspections of Israel"

Supporters of regime change in Iran held a rally in Los Angeles, USA, on the 23rd (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

As tensions in the Middle East escalate with the US bombing of Iran and the sudden ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a Seoul National University professor of Iranian origin has called on the South Korean government and its citizens to speak out more actively.

On June 24, Siavash Safavi, an associate professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations at Seoul National University and originally from Iran, made this statement while attending a forum titled "A World Trained to Be Hostile to Iran: The US and Israel's Invasion of Iran," held at the Human Rights Foundation Sarang in Eunpyeong-gu that afternoon. The forum was organized by the "Emergency Action of Korean Civil Society in Solidarity with Palestine."

Professor Safavi urged, "Please call on the South Korean government to play a more active role," and added, "As a member of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), South Korea can demand international inspections of Israel's nuclear development program."

He emphasized that many civil society organizations in Iran are condemning the attacks by the United States and Israel. He also expressed concern about the deepening instability in the Middle East due to the war, as well as the weakening of Iran's democracy and human rights movements.

Professor Safavi requested, "Amplify the voices of Iranian civil society organizations," and asked, "Please use your organizations' networks and social media to raise awareness about the situation in Iran."