Bazaar Merchant Sentenced to Death, Another Sentenced to Ten-Year Imprisonment

Imprisoned bazaar merchants Mohsen Dogmechi (right) and Javad Lari (right).

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran reports that on August 1, 2010, two well known merchants of the Tehran Bazaar, Javad Lari and Mohsen Dogmechi, received heavy and inhumane sentences by Salavati, the presiding judge of branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Lari was sentenced to death and Dogmechi received ten years imprisonment in Gohardasht prison (Karaj, Iran). Both prisoners are currently detained in ward 350 of Evin prison.

Mrs. Mohammadi, the lawyer for 51 year old Javad Lari, informed her client of the execution sentence. Lari was arrested on September 15, 2008 when Ministry of Intelligence agents invaded his workplace. He was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in ward 209 of Evin prison. The head of interrogations at the Ministry of Intelligence, Alavi and Saeed Shabkhan, were in charge when Lari was under physical and psychological torture to agree to a mock television interview. After Lari refused, the heads of interrogation created false allegations against him and his file was sent to branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.

Judge Salavati issued his verdict based on the allegations of the Ministry of Intelligence that charged Lari with Moharebeh (waging war against God), acting against national security, propaganda against the regime, arranging holidays (the arranged holidays to various Iranian cities were for his family), and establishing a financial fund to support the Mujahedin organization.

The Revolutionary Court is reported to hold secret meetings that aim to find ways to cover up false allegations and the mistreatment of political prisoners and their lawyers.

Mohsen Dogmechi is a 50 year old merchant well known in the Tehran Bazaar. He was summoned to the Revolutionary Court on August 1st where he received a sentence of ten years imprisonment in Rajai Shahr prison (I.e. Gohardasht prison). His charges are: providing financial aid to families of political prisoners, and visiting his son in Camp Ashraf.

Political prisoners and their family members report that inhumane death sentences for political prisoners are issued by Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader. The sentences are then announced by the presiding judge. Families of political prisoners say that they are only permitted to request mercy or an appeal from Khamenei. Dogmechi and Lari were also both political prisoners in the 1980s where they were subjected to torture.

Another imprisoned bazaar merchant is Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhabzi who is detained in ward 209 of Evin prison since December 2009. His current situation is uncertain.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI) condemn the heavy and inhumane death sentences issued by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. HRDAI considers this act a crime against humanity. We ask the UN Secretary General, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other international authorities to halt the systematic and organized crimes committed by the Iranian regime. We demand for the violations of human rights in Iran to be presented to the security council so appropriate measures are taken.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran