Thank you, Chair.
Allow me to start off by thanking all the witnesses for being with us today. They have certainly provided us with a lot of powerful testimonies.
Let me start by highlighting what Mr. Sobhani said, which is that Iran essentially stands apart from other countries.
As you know, currently the latest Nobel laureate languishes in jail. We also know that the country's most pre-eminent lawyer, Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, is serving a sentence. The country's most popular musician, Toomaj Salehi, has been sentenced to death. The same goes for the country's most prominent director. I recognize full well how dire and how appalling the human rights situation is in Iran.
Let me start with you, Ms. Daemi. We heard over the course of the past several days that the President of Iran has died, but we saw scenes of celebration not only within Iran but also in the diaspora community throughout Europe and North America. How do you explain that? Why is it that the President of Iran was such a detested individual?