North Texas Community Gathers in Plano to Commemorate 1988 Massacre Victims

September 8, 2026; IACNT

PLANO, TX — On Sunday, September 6, members of the Iranian American Community of North Texas, along with local supporters and human rights advocates, gathered at the Parr Library for a poignant photo exhibition and commemorationprogram honoring the more than 30,000 political prisoners executed during the 1988 Prison Massacre in Iran.

Ahead of the gathering, Plano Magazine covered the event, highlighting how the exhibition tends to draw direct connections between the 1988 executions and today’s widespread protests in Iran. In its coverage, the publication noted the organizers' broader mission: advocating for an end to executions in Iran and supporting the establishment of a secular, democratic republic over the country's current theocratic government or a restored monarchy.

 Powerful Testimonies and Historical Context

The program featured firsthand accounts from former Iranian political prisoners who shared harrowing testimonies about the torture and systematic abuse they endured inside the regime's dungeons.

Attendees were also presented with a comprehensive slideshow detailing the history of the 1988 executions—where most victims were members and supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK/PMOI)—and the ongoing international calls to hold key regime perpetrators accountable for crimes against humanity.

Voices of Defiance Behind Bars

A central highlight of the event was a video testimony smuggled directly out of prison from Vahid Bani-Amerian, a member of the MEK, detailing the ongoing resistance and defiance inside Iran's dungeons today.

Connecting past sacrifices to present-day resistance, the audience was also shown video footage of a recent motorbike parade organized by MEK Resistance Units inside Tehran—demonstrating how the new generation continues to defy the regime despite extreme risks.

Visiting the Exhibition

Following the stage presentations, attendees walked through the photo exhibition, reflecting on historical photographs, documents, and portraits of the victims who stood firm for freedom and democracy in Iran.

The Iranian American Community of North Texas extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the attendees, community members, and local supporters who joined us in keeping the memory of the martyrs alive and standing in solidarity with the people of Iran.