Source: Persian2English
Based on the reports by Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, many supporters of the Mourning Mothers are under medieval and excruciating solitary confinement conditions at ward 209 of Evin prison. Attacks by the Ministry of Intelligence against supporters of the Mourning Mothers began on Sunday February 7, 2010 at 10:30 pm and peaked on February 9th. It is reported that during these attacks at least seven mothers were arrested and taken to solitary confinement in ward 209 of Evin prison. Five Ministry of Intelligence agents participated in the extremely violent and barbaric attacks.
The Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested and took away the mothers in front of the horrified and tearful eyes of their children. The attacks were coordinated and accompanied by plainclothes agents who lived in the same neighborhoods as the mothers.
The names of some of the arrested supporters of the Mourning Mothers are:
1. Goli, 49, married with two children. She was arrested on the evening of Sunday February 7, 2010 at her home.
2. Elham Ahsani, 27, general medical practitioner. She is also an activist working against child labor and helping women with HIV. She was arrested on the night of Monday February 8, 2010 at 10:30 pm. There is no information regarding her whereabouts.
3. Jila Akramzadeh-Makvandi, 49, was arrested on the evening of Monday February 8, 2010 around 11:30pm. She was taken to solitary confinement in ward 209 of Evin prison.
4. Dr. Leila Seifolahi, 42, was arrested on the night of Monday February 8,2010 and has been taken to an unknown location.
5. Fatemeh Rastegari, married with two children, was arrested on Monday night. It is said that she was transferred to ward 209 of Evin prison.
6. Manijeh Taheri
7. Mrs. Farzaneh Zinali, 53, married with two children. She was arrested on January 8, 2010 while on her way to a protest by the Mourning Mothers at Laleh Park. She was kidnapped by Ministry of Intelligence agents.
The families of the supporters of the Mourning Mothers have gone to the Revolutionary Court and Evin prison to find out about the situation, conditions, and whereabouts of their loved ones. The Revolutionary Guards and security agents who are working as employees of the Revolutionary Court and Evin prison, have responded to the families of the Mourning Mother supporters with insulting and threatening language.
Supporters of the Mourning Mothers seek justice for the mothers whose children have been tortured and killed under the authority of Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam and Ahmad Reza Radan at Kahrizak prison and by the Basij and plainclothes thugs.
They have also accompanied the Mourning Mothers at the graves of freedom fighters, including on the birthdays of Neda Agha-Soltan and Ashkan Sohrabi. So far the response to their just demands has been met with batons, insults, arrests, solitary confinement, and torture.
In any religion, tradition, and nationality around the world, mothers are always treated with special respect, especially mothers who have sacrificed their children on the path to freedom. But the agents of the ‘Supreme’ Leader did not even respect the mothers’ dignity. Instead, they have been violently beaten and attacked at Laleh Park and other locations. Through shameless cruelty, regime forces attacked their homes, arrest and took them away to solitary confinement in Evin prison`s horrific ward 209.
Following the killings of Iranian citizens on [Ashura] December 27, 2009, religious values were trampled, now “motherly values” have been trampled on with the arrest of the mothers.
Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI) condemn the inhumane attacks, arrests, solitary confinement, and torture of the supporters of the Mourning Mothers. HRDAI asks the United Nations Human Rights Commission and Reporters for Women and other international organizations to take immediate actions to end the crimes of the ‘Supreme’ Leader Ali Khamenei against the Iranian people.
Translation by: Tour Irani
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Stop execution in Iran, Iran’s Protestors Are Facing Death Penalty
On January 28, 2010, the office of Tehran’s general and revolutionary prosecutor has declared the execution of Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour. They were convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) and being member of “Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran”. Amnesty International describes the trials that led to Mr. Zamani’s and Rahmanipour’s execution as “show trials,” as well as a “mockery of justice”. Both victims were arrested before the June fraudulent election. Nine other dissidents also were convicted of moharebeh and are waiting execution. Another trial for the Ashoura protesters will be started tomorrow in Tehran.
Ayatolah Jannati, a member of the Guardians Council in his congregation in today Friday Prayer at the University of Tehran campus “Lauding Judiciary for execution of two of the post-vote rioters on Thursday” and said if several people were executed on July 9, 1999 (when university students in Tehran and other major cities protest against the new wave of suppression) “we would no longer witness such event as that of Ashoura”. He wants judiciary system repeat the massacres of the 80s.
Before today execution, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Tehran’s general and revolutionary prosecutor, declared during in an interview with Fars News Agency on January 8, 2010 that the trial of five men arrested in Ashoura protest of Sunday 27th of December has already started by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The five are accused of moharebeh (enmity against God) and if found guilty, they could face execution.
Several high-ranking clerics and government authorities, are asking for tougher measures against those arrested in intermittent protests that has swept Iran since the flawed presidential election of last June.
Iranians understand and yesterday executions show this is not an empty threat. Time and again they have been subject to harsh repressive measures in the last 31 years. Just after the victory of the February Revolution in 1979, the Revolutionary Courts executed hundreds of Shah’s officials, military and security officers without due process (some of them low ranking officers). At the same time the courts ruled for the execution of dozens of religious and ethnic minorities like Bahá’ís, Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen.
In the early 80s the regime carried out mass execution of its political opponents and non-conformists. Thousands of men and women, many of them teenagers, were executed or killed under torture inside prisons around the country. In the summer of 1988, the regime executed about 4000 political prisoners in less than 6 weeks. The massacre occurred under the direct order of Ayatolah Khomeyni.
The suppression of the opposition did not cease after the massacre: security forces inside and outside of Iran killed dozens of opposition figures. In autumn 1998, the security forces killed five intellectuals. The government investigation committee, appointed by the incumbent president, found that the security forces were responsible, but did not reveal the names of the high ranked officials and clerics who ordered the killings.
Since the fraudulent elections of June 12, 2009 the regime has embarked on suppressing peaceful demonstrations. Dozens of protesters have been killed in the streets or under torture inside prisons. Thousands of protesters have been arrested by the security forces. There are reports of rape and other abusive treatment.
Most of the detainees are ordinary people. In many cases, the location of detention centres is unknown. The families of the detainees know that if their loved ones’ location of detention is made public; it would be more difficult for the government to mistreat them. The families are gathering in front of prisons like Evin and Revolutionary Courts to obtain information about their loved ones. They are the main source of news about what’s happening inside prisons in Iran.
Officials make false allegations against the arrested. The Tehran prosecutor said the five member of one of the opposition groups are on trial for moharebeh, but he did not release any names. The details surrounding the arrests and trials have not been made public. Other official reports claims that Bahá’ís arrested recently were in possession of illegal firearms and other deadly weapons. The International Bahá’ís community “rejects the allegations that the arrested Bahá’ís had weapon at home”.
Recent reports also indicate that the regime is targeting ethnic minorities once again. In recent months several Kurds have been executed, Fasih Yasamini is the last victim who was executed on January 6, 2010.
Iranian and international human rights activists and organizations are quite concerned about the life of political prisoners in Iran. Amnesty International in its statement of January 8, 2010 on the accusations by the government said, “The news comes amid signs that the Iranian authorities may be planning to increase the use of the death penalty as a means to deter demonstrations”.
On many occasions the international community failed to show enough sensitivity to the massacre that was taking place, like the genocide in Rwanda. The new wave of repression in Iran is taking place in front of the very eyes of the world, partially due to the huge number of videos released by the protesters. There is no excuse for silence and turning a blind eye.
It is the responsibility of the international community to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran so that they allow UN officials into Iran to meet with detainees and the family of political prisoners and victims. It is the responsibility of all concerned Canadians to ask for a fair trial for all detainees and stop execution of the accused.
Ayatolah Jannati, a member of the Guardians Council in his congregation in today Friday Prayer at the University of Tehran campus “Lauding Judiciary for execution of two of the post-vote rioters on Thursday” and said if several people were executed on July 9, 1999 (when university students in Tehran and other major cities protest against the new wave of suppression) “we would no longer witness such event as that of Ashoura”. He wants judiciary system repeat the massacres of the 80s.
Before today execution, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Tehran’s general and revolutionary prosecutor, declared during in an interview with Fars News Agency on January 8, 2010 that the trial of five men arrested in Ashoura protest of Sunday 27th of December has already started by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The five are accused of moharebeh (enmity against God) and if found guilty, they could face execution.
Several high-ranking clerics and government authorities, are asking for tougher measures against those arrested in intermittent protests that has swept Iran since the flawed presidential election of last June.
Iranians understand and yesterday executions show this is not an empty threat. Time and again they have been subject to harsh repressive measures in the last 31 years. Just after the victory of the February Revolution in 1979, the Revolutionary Courts executed hundreds of Shah’s officials, military and security officers without due process (some of them low ranking officers). At the same time the courts ruled for the execution of dozens of religious and ethnic minorities like Bahá’ís, Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen.
In the early 80s the regime carried out mass execution of its political opponents and non-conformists. Thousands of men and women, many of them teenagers, were executed or killed under torture inside prisons around the country. In the summer of 1988, the regime executed about 4000 political prisoners in less than 6 weeks. The massacre occurred under the direct order of Ayatolah Khomeyni.
The suppression of the opposition did not cease after the massacre: security forces inside and outside of Iran killed dozens of opposition figures. In autumn 1998, the security forces killed five intellectuals. The government investigation committee, appointed by the incumbent president, found that the security forces were responsible, but did not reveal the names of the high ranked officials and clerics who ordered the killings.
Since the fraudulent elections of June 12, 2009 the regime has embarked on suppressing peaceful demonstrations. Dozens of protesters have been killed in the streets or under torture inside prisons. Thousands of protesters have been arrested by the security forces. There are reports of rape and other abusive treatment.
Most of the detainees are ordinary people. In many cases, the location of detention centres is unknown. The families of the detainees know that if their loved ones’ location of detention is made public; it would be more difficult for the government to mistreat them. The families are gathering in front of prisons like Evin and Revolutionary Courts to obtain information about their loved ones. They are the main source of news about what’s happening inside prisons in Iran.
Officials make false allegations against the arrested. The Tehran prosecutor said the five member of one of the opposition groups are on trial for moharebeh, but he did not release any names. The details surrounding the arrests and trials have not been made public. Other official reports claims that Bahá’ís arrested recently were in possession of illegal firearms and other deadly weapons. The International Bahá’ís community “rejects the allegations that the arrested Bahá’ís had weapon at home”.
Recent reports also indicate that the regime is targeting ethnic minorities once again. In recent months several Kurds have been executed, Fasih Yasamini is the last victim who was executed on January 6, 2010.
Iranian and international human rights activists and organizations are quite concerned about the life of political prisoners in Iran. Amnesty International in its statement of January 8, 2010 on the accusations by the government said, “The news comes amid signs that the Iranian authorities may be planning to increase the use of the death penalty as a means to deter demonstrations”.
On many occasions the international community failed to show enough sensitivity to the massacre that was taking place, like the genocide in Rwanda. The new wave of repression in Iran is taking place in front of the very eyes of the world, partially due to the huge number of videos released by the protesters. There is no excuse for silence and turning a blind eye.
It is the responsibility of the international community to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran so that they allow UN officials into Iran to meet with detainees and the family of political prisoners and victims. It is the responsibility of all concerned Canadians to ask for a fair trial for all detainees and stop execution of the accused.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Wife of Mehdi Karroubi Addresses Ayatollah Khamenei About Torture of Her Son
(14 February 2010) The wife of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi has published an open letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader detailing her son Ali Karroubi’s torture following his detention on 11 February, as the authorities stifled opposition demonstrations, and appealed for an end to such abuses.
Fatemeh Karroubi described how her son was arrested as he attempted to protect his father from violence by unidentified agents.
Read more in:
http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/02/wife-of-karroubi-khamenei/
Student Facing Execution for Throwing Rocks
Source: International campaign for human rights in Iran
(8 February 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today strongly condemned the prosecution of a young student activist, Mohammad Amin Valian, under the charge of Moharebeh, or “enmity against God,” which is punishable by death and called the charges “grossly disproportionate.”
The main pieces of evidence used to convict the twenty-year old student are photographs showing him throwing rocks during Ashura protests.
The conviction of Valian, a student from Damaghan Science University, followed his denunciation in a student newspaper run by pro-government Basiji militias and subsequent arrest. Valian was also convicted of “corruption on earth,” “congregation and mutiny to commit crimes against national security,” “propagation activities against the Islamic regime,” and “insulting top regime officials.”
Valian is one of sixteen protesters who have been subjected to a “show trial” for their peaceful political protests, and one of the five convicted of a crime carrying the death penalty.
During his trial, Valian confessed openly to throwing stones on three occasions during the protests, noting that they hit nothing, and asked the court to consider the reasons why he had thus expressed his feelings and frustrations. He also freely admitted to chanting “Death to the Dictator.”
Peers of Valian told the Campaign that he was one of the most active members of the Central Council of the Islamic Student Association. He had organized a number of political debates, which were also cited as evidence of the crimes for which he was convicted. Valian has been an active supporter of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Read more in: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/02/valian-student-sentenced-to-death/
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Statement by 18 Mothers of Jailed Activists
To the people of Iran,
So many seconds have passed since we were deprived of our children’s caress. It has been so many minutes since we heard their voices. We have awaited hours for their arrival. It has been days that we have not been able to embrace their pain and joy. Weeks have gone by that we wait on news from them. It is months that we remain unaware of the forbidden crimes they have committed that has lead to their imprisonment.
We wait with our eyes focused on the door, walking through the streets, hoping if nothing else, to hear some type of news from them. But alas, not only did that not happen, we also witnessed verbal abuse by those who claim they stand for ethics and freedom.
If it was only about the verbal abuse, we would endure it. If it was only about the separation from our loved ones, we would remain silent out of respect for Iran. If it were only about imprisonment, we would withstand it, because our children are no more beloved than the others; nor have they been any more responsible for the progress of our country. But regretfully, with every drop of tear, another charge is added to the existing indictment of our children. As if baseless arrests were not enough, now unfounded accusations have been added to our existing pain and loss. The accusations are not only unfounded but also comical.
Compatriots,
They accuse our children, even though they don’t even believe in shouting at their opponents, of being linked to foreign terrorist groups. Some have been accused of working against the national security of our country. Our loved ones have been accused of propaganda against the regime, just for writing articles in newspapers. They have taken those who we love with every cell in our body from the quiet prayers and benevolence of the creator to the corners of prisons. They even smeared our names when we cried to God for their release. Membership in social networks is considered a crime and the right to visit our beloved children has turned into a grand gesture on their part, leaving us with no one to turn to for justice.
Iranians,
They say that history is the world’s harshest judge and that in all circumstances the oppressed are hopeful to history’s eventual judgment. If we remain silent, how will history remember the burning fever we feel when we are ignorant of the whereabouts of our daughters and sons? How will history remember the cries and the tears we shed for the anguish of separation from our loved ones? Where is history when we cry every night about these guiltless people to our creator?
Compatriots,
We have shared our anguish with you so that you are reminded of how hard it is to be a mother these days; so that you know that we will never give up until history witnesses our joy in embracing our loved ones.
May the imprisoned bird live on and witness the blessed day when the world is no longer a cage.
1- Hava Ebrahimi, Saeed and Masoud Nourmohammadi’s mother
2- Mahin Javaheripour, Mehrdad Rahimi’s mother
3- Sakineh Kharmandiz, Mehrdad Aslani’s mother
4- Zahra Reza, Hossein Noraninejad’s mother
5- Soghra Alipour, Parisa Kakaee’s mother
6- Tayebeh Fakhri, Emadeddin Baghi’s mother
7- Esmat Kashani, Saeed Leylaz’s mother
8- Shahrzad Kariman, Shiva Nazar Ahari’s mother
9- Faezeh Malekshahi, Saeed Haeri’s mother
10- Marzieh Mohebi, Saeed Jalalifar’s mother
11- Masoomeh Molool, Massoud Bastani’s mother
12- Malekeh Mohammadi, Samieh Alamipasand’s mother
13- Narges Mousavi, Peyman Chalaki’s mother
14- Parvin Mokhtareh , Koohyar Goodarzi’s mother
15- Soraya Mohamad Zadeh, Saeed Kalanaki’s mother
16- Arefeh Nouri, Maryam Zia’s mother
17- Khodabas Nazari, Bahman Ahmadi Amooyi’s mother
So many seconds have passed since we were deprived of our children’s caress. It has been so many minutes since we heard their voices. We have awaited hours for their arrival. It has been days that we have not been able to embrace their pain and joy. Weeks have gone by that we wait on news from them. It is months that we remain unaware of the forbidden crimes they have committed that has lead to their imprisonment.
We wait with our eyes focused on the door, walking through the streets, hoping if nothing else, to hear some type of news from them. But alas, not only did that not happen, we also witnessed verbal abuse by those who claim they stand for ethics and freedom.
If it was only about the verbal abuse, we would endure it. If it was only about the separation from our loved ones, we would remain silent out of respect for Iran. If it were only about imprisonment, we would withstand it, because our children are no more beloved than the others; nor have they been any more responsible for the progress of our country. But regretfully, with every drop of tear, another charge is added to the existing indictment of our children. As if baseless arrests were not enough, now unfounded accusations have been added to our existing pain and loss. The accusations are not only unfounded but also comical.
Compatriots,
They accuse our children, even though they don’t even believe in shouting at their opponents, of being linked to foreign terrorist groups. Some have been accused of working against the national security of our country. Our loved ones have been accused of propaganda against the regime, just for writing articles in newspapers. They have taken those who we love with every cell in our body from the quiet prayers and benevolence of the creator to the corners of prisons. They even smeared our names when we cried to God for their release. Membership in social networks is considered a crime and the right to visit our beloved children has turned into a grand gesture on their part, leaving us with no one to turn to for justice.
Iranians,
They say that history is the world’s harshest judge and that in all circumstances the oppressed are hopeful to history’s eventual judgment. If we remain silent, how will history remember the burning fever we feel when we are ignorant of the whereabouts of our daughters and sons? How will history remember the cries and the tears we shed for the anguish of separation from our loved ones? Where is history when we cry every night about these guiltless people to our creator?
Compatriots,
We have shared our anguish with you so that you are reminded of how hard it is to be a mother these days; so that you know that we will never give up until history witnesses our joy in embracing our loved ones.
May the imprisoned bird live on and witness the blessed day when the world is no longer a cage.
1- Hava Ebrahimi, Saeed and Masoud Nourmohammadi’s mother
2- Mahin Javaheripour, Mehrdad Rahimi’s mother
3- Sakineh Kharmandiz, Mehrdad Aslani’s mother
4- Zahra Reza, Hossein Noraninejad’s mother
5- Soghra Alipour, Parisa Kakaee’s mother
6- Tayebeh Fakhri, Emadeddin Baghi’s mother
7- Esmat Kashani, Saeed Leylaz’s mother
8- Shahrzad Kariman, Shiva Nazar Ahari’s mother
9- Faezeh Malekshahi, Saeed Haeri’s mother
10- Marzieh Mohebi, Saeed Jalalifar’s mother
11- Masoomeh Molool, Massoud Bastani’s mother
12- Malekeh Mohammadi, Samieh Alamipasand’s mother
13- Narges Mousavi, Peyman Chalaki’s mother
14- Parvin Mokhtareh , Koohyar Goodarzi’s mother
15- Soraya Mohamad Zadeh, Saeed Kalanaki’s mother
16- Arefeh Nouri, Maryam Zia’s mother
17- Khodabas Nazari, Bahman Ahmadi Amooyi’s mother
Mourning Mothers of Iran: "Stop The Executions"
Mourning Mothers of Iran: "Stop The Executions"
Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
Mourning Mothers, a group of wives and mothers who have lost their spouses or children during the post-elections protests or whose spouses or children are currently in prison, and their supporters, have issued a statement, objecting to executions of political protesters and execution sentences for several political prisoners, demanding revocation of death sentences for political prisoners. They have issued a warning to Islamic Republic of Iran: "Don't allow a repeat of the 1980's catastrophe." They are referencing mass executions of political dissidents in 1988 during which it is said thousands were executed in Islamic Republic prisons. Islamic Republic authorities have continually maintained silence on these executions.
Mourning Mothers have also demanded release of "prisoners of conscience," and trials of "those who were responsible for and who ordered their children's murders." The statement adds: "We, the Mourning Mothers, who have gathered spontaneously at Laleh Park, other parks, and public buildings over the past seven months to condemn the murders and arrests and demanding an end to these inhumane and illegal actions, are facing our own children's executions today." "Who has subjected the mothers to this gradual death, mourning our loved ones?...Should our children's participation in elections lead to their arrest, torture, rape, murder, and execution?"
According to Mourning Mothers, if such violence against Iranian youth continues, public protests will also increase.
Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
Mourning Mothers, a group of wives and mothers who have lost their spouses or children during the post-elections protests or whose spouses or children are currently in prison, and their supporters, have issued a statement, objecting to executions of political protesters and execution sentences for several political prisoners, demanding revocation of death sentences for political prisoners. They have issued a warning to Islamic Republic of Iran: "Don't allow a repeat of the 1980's catastrophe." They are referencing mass executions of political dissidents in 1988 during which it is said thousands were executed in Islamic Republic prisons. Islamic Republic authorities have continually maintained silence on these executions.
Mourning Mothers have also demanded release of "prisoners of conscience," and trials of "those who were responsible for and who ordered their children's murders." The statement adds: "We, the Mourning Mothers, who have gathered spontaneously at Laleh Park, other parks, and public buildings over the past seven months to condemn the murders and arrests and demanding an end to these inhumane and illegal actions, are facing our own children's executions today." "Who has subjected the mothers to this gradual death, mourning our loved ones?...Should our children's participation in elections lead to their arrest, torture, rape, murder, and execution?"
According to Mourning Mothers, if such violence against Iranian youth continues, public protests will also increase.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)