UANI Renews Campaign Against Fiat, Calls on Jennifer Lopez to Renounce Fiat Ties
New York, NY - 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.
In a letter to Ms. Lopez, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:
... [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. ...
****
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.
In a separate letter to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, Ambassador Wallace wrote:
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.
****
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.
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) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace.
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons. UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons.
The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran
- Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad;
- Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world;
- Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran;
- Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies;
- Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and;
- Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures.
UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.