FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 15, 2019
CONTACT: Mana Mostatabi | 202.386.6325 x103 | [email protected]

Washington DC – Today, news broke that the Justice Department will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges against the two U.S. Park Police officers who fatally shot Iranian-American Bijan Ghaisar two years ago. In response, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) issued the following statement:

“The outrage of the killing of Bijan Ghaisar by two U.S. Park Police officers demands answers and justice. Instead, the U.S. Justice Department dragged its feet, prolonged the agony of Bijan’s family, and ultimately shielded those officers from any charges for killing an unarmed young man. This is a travesty, and our hearts go out to the Ghaisar family, which has been denied justice and accountability after more than two years of mourning.

“Unfortunately, police violence against communities of color is all too common in this country, as is the failure to hold accountable officers of the law who gun down innocent and unarmed people on and off camera. We cannot call our country safe when innocents can be gunned down while their killers continue to wield weaponry behind a badge.

“NIAC joined with IAAB and IABA earlier this year to call for the officers responsible to be held accountable and fired for Bijan’s killing. Today, the Iranian-American community stands in solidarity with the Ghaisar family as it continues to seek justice that was denied by the Department of Justice.”