FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2012
Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com
Phone: (212) 554-3296
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.
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