Published: January 12, 2012
UANI Renews Campaign Against Fiat, Calls on Jennifer Lopez to Renounce Fiat Ties
NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - On Thursday, United
Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) renewed its campaign against auto
manufacturer Fiat, and publicly called on Fiat endorser Jennifer Lopez
to end her support for Fiat if the company refuses to end its Iran
business.
Fiat's subsidiary Iveco continues to sell and distribute trucks in Iran
that have been used by the Iranian regime to transport ballistic
missiles and stage gruesome public executions. Fiat also continues to
operate in Iran's automobile market, and is reportedly planning to
expand its presence there by opening a luxury Maserati dealership in
Tehran.
On Wednesday, UANI sent Ms. Lopez a letter concerning her support for
Fiat. Highlighting the human rights abuses and nuclear ambitions of the
Iranian regime, UANI asked for Ms. Lopez to support UANI's campaign by
using her position to compel Fiat to change its irresponsible policies,
or end her lucrative financial relationship with the company.
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In a letter to Ms. Lopez, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D.
Wallace, wrote:
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... [B]y endorsing Fiat, you are serving as spokesperson for a company
that freely does business with a regime that is developing an
illegal nuclear weapons program, financing and sponsoring terrorist
groups including al-Qaeda, has killed American and NATO soldiers and
is recognized as one of the world's leading human rights violators.
Political dissidents, human rights activists, labor leaders, women,
ethnic and religious minorities, homosexuals and students in Iran
are routinely detained incommunicado and beaten, raped, lashed and
subjected to inhumane forms of physical and psychological torture.
According to an October 2011 United Nations report, there are at
least 100 juveniles on death row in Iran. The same United Nations
report states that at least 300 executions were carried out in
secret in Iran in 2010 alone. These executions are often cruel and
unusual and include public hangings by construction cranes and
stoning. A Fiat subsidiary, Iveco, produces vehicles that are
reportedly used by the Iranian regime as platforms to stage such
gruesome public executions. It is doubtful that you would want your
name or image even remotely associated with a company involved in
such actions.
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****
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UANI recognizes that your endorsement of Fiat does not represent a
sign of your support for the Iranian regime and its abhorrent
practices. With that said, however, it is important for you to know
that as its spokesperson, you are now the face of Fiat, and are
therefore synonymous with a corporation that is undermining U.S.
foreign policy and international security through its willingness to
do business with the leaders of one of the world's most dangerous
and repressive regimes.
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In a separate letter to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, Ambassador
Wallace wrote:
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In light of Fiat's decisions to re-enter the U.S. market and to
purchase a majority ownership of Chrysler Group, it is important for
Fiat to send the strongest message possible to the Iranian regime
that the misuse of Fiat products is unacceptable. Americans are
increasingly reluctant to support business such as Fiat that
cooperate with a dangerous and repressive regime that finances
terrorist groups, killed American and NATO soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan and brutalizes its own population. Simply put, Americans
will increasingly hesitate to buy Fiat and Chrysler Group products
absent the adoption of ethical corporate policies that preclude
business in Iran.
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****
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During this week's North American International Auto Show, you
acknowledged that the huge miss of Fiat's sales target in North
America was a result of being "incredibly naïve." It would be
similarly naïve to expect Americans to purchase additional Fiat and
Chrysler Group vehicles in light of revelations regarding Fiat's
business in Iran.
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UANI's campaign against Fiat began in 2011, and included advertisements
in New York newspapers [see additional ad here],
and a protest
at the New York International Auto Show.
UANI has requested replies from Ms. Lopez and Mr. Marchionne by January
18, 2012.
Click here
to read UANI's full letter to Fiat.
Click here
to read UANI's full letter to Jennifer Lopez.
Click here
to send a message to Fiat.
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI)
Nathan Carleton,
212-554-3296
press@uani.com
Copyright © 2012, Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012, NewsBlaze,
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