Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, spokesperson for the Iran Human Rights organization
The International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran spoke to human rights activist Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam on his organization’s recent annual execution report that covers Iran’s 2010 record. The Iran Human Rights group’s report states that, according to Iranian sources, “85 people have been executed in January 2011. At least 3 of those executed in January 2011 were arrested in connection with the 2009 post election protests.”
In the interview, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam draws attention to the serious matter of secret executions in Iran and the role of the United Nations in dealing with Iran’s illegal actions. He also provides tips on what can be done by international communities and human rights activists to highlight the urgency of the situation on a global scale, both in the civil and political society.
The International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran (ICADPI) – In your organization’s annual report, it said that the number of executions in 2010 in Iran is probably the highest since the mass executions of political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Are there any similarities between the executions then and now?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – A similarity is that many of the executions are carried out in secret. In terms of the political situation in the country, I believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran feels threatened, the same way it did in the 1980′s. Additionally, some of the people who held key positions in 1988 are playing an important role in today’s executions. For example, the General Prosecutor, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i was a main figure in the mass executions of 1988. Nonetheless, there is a big question mark around why so many executions are kept a secret. According to our report, many of the executions, especially in Mashhad, were linked to drug related offences.
Iranian authorities seem to be more than proud to say that they are fighting against drug trafficking, so why are they keeping the executions a secret?
ICADPI - What is your personal opinion on why they are keeping the executions a secret?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – I really do not know. The pattern of executions began in 2009, but did not reach its peak until summer 2010. According to our report, in the month of August, approximately 200 people may have been executed in one prison. These prisoners are executed in large numbers and then the act is kept a secret. This means that Iranian authorities are hiding something.
I have been asked by journalists about why the executions are kept a secret. One journalist asked whether the reason has anything to do with the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in drug trafficking. Some documents released by Wikileaks indicates that the IRGC may have been involved in drug trafficking with Azerbaijan. I don’t want to speculate, but there are many unanswered questions. It seems that the government of Iran is trying to hide something. It seems that the regime is in a big hurry to execute 60-70 people in a singe day. It seems strange.
ICADPI – Who is responsible for these executions?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam - It is very important that the UN launches a process to see who is responsible. In Iran, it is not difficult to see who is responsible. We know that Sadegh Larijani, the head of the Judiciary and the Prosecutor General, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i play extremely important roles. I’m not sure exactly what happens in the process, but we do know that the orders have to be signed by the head of the Judiciary. And the head of the Judiciary position is assigned by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. I believe that everyone, from the Supreme Leader to those who put the noose around the prisoners’ necks are all responsible. The head of the Judiciary, the Prosecutor General, and the Supreme Leader have the highest level of responsibility. They have to be accountable for what has happened. Unfortunately, the UN and world communities do not have a proud history of defending people. The UN usually enters the picture after a genocide has occurred, like the one in Rwanda, Sudan, and the former Yugoslavia. When it comes to mass executions, it has been more difficult [to get the UN to take action] because there has not been a strong enough will by member countries. I think it is time to make clear that the human rights conventions are not just formalities, but breaking them has consequences.
ICADPI - Has the United Nations been responsive enough? The UN wrote a statement expressing deep concern on the recent wave of executions in Iran.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – The UN can do much more than what it is doing. It released that statement late in January, after Iranian authorities had already executed an average of three people a day in over a month. The fact that the UN released a statement is good, but I am surprised it did not take any actions before that. In November 2010, for the third time, the UN voted on a moratorium to stop the death penalty worldwide. This shows that the issue of the death penalty is on the UN’s agenda. So why has the UN not shown a stronger reaction to the executions in Iran? This is a question that the UN has to answer. I believe Iranian human rights organizations have asked the UN to send a special rapporteur to Iran. I know that officials from other countries have also asked for the same thing. Last year, the UN signalized that Iran has allowed special rapporteurs to visit Iran. So, why has the UN not pushed for a special rapporteur to go yet? I think perhaps that the issue of human rights and the death penalty are not considered high priorities at the UN.
Although, at the same time, I think it is difficult for the UN to take action, because member countries are not pushing enough. The UN is made up of many member countries. The role of the civil society is very important to make the issue of the death penalty a priority among the public opinion. We can urge individual countries to take more action against executions so a higher priority is given to the issue of the death penalty.
For example, 20 or 30 years ago it was unthinkable that leaders of big nations would gather and discuss environmental issues. But, due to the power of the public opinion, every political party in the western world has to now have a program on how it plans to counter environmental issues like pollution. We can do the same with the death penalty. Civil societies and NGO’s are needed to change the public opinion and give higher priority to the issue of the death penalty.
ICADPI – What can world communities do exactly?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – I think symbolic actions are sometimes very important. If you look at 2010, we had the biggest mobilization, as far as I can remember, against one single death penalty case: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It was not only human rights organizations and civil societies that got involved. Governments and state leaders, including their spouses, also got involved. I think that is the reason why Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is still alive today. When people around the world have the ability to show such a strong reaction to one single death penalty case, I think they can also do the same [for the issue of the death penalty as a whole]. However, if people show a strong reaction to one case and keep quiet about so many others, this act may be misinterpreted by the Iranian authorities.
Thanks to the Internet, we live in a world where everyone is witness to the crimes committed in Iran. So, not reacting appropriately could serve as a green light for the Iranian authorities [to continue committing execution crimes]. Symbolic reactions and statements are very important to show that we do not accept [the crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran].
We are aware that Iranian authorities spend a lot of money and resources to buy votes from different countries for when the UN has to vote on human rights violations. Thus, we know that statements issued by the UN are important to the Iranian authorities, even if they pretend that this is not the case.
ICADPI - What can be done beyond issuing statements?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – Beyond statements, the world can do a lot. The world can push the UN to send a special rapporteur to, visit Iran, the prisons, and speak to the families of those who have been executed. In Mashhhad and other parts of Iran, death row prisoners have not been given fair trials, especially those convicted of drug trafficking and Moharebeh (enmity against God). Additionally, many death row prisoners have not had the chance to see their lawyers. In Iran, the government even breaks its own laws and the conventions it has ratified. This means that the UN is able to begin a legal process [against the] Iranian government and key individuals involved in the unlawful executions. Politically it may not be pragmatic, but this is the price we have to pay for our values.
It is a question of priority and how important these issues are to the UN and member countries. Of course, it is difficult to put those responsible on trial, but we can send a strong statement to the world about what is acceptable and what is not. As long as the world is silent, government authorities who violate human rights are setting the standards on what is wrong or right. If we really believe that killing people is a crime, then we have to pay the price to defend it.
ICADPI - How?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam - We should report on every single execution. If we show reaction to every execution, then we can expect authorities to do the same. We should show reaction at every level of civil society. For example, Iranians should hold lectures in universities and contact the media. We should not miss a single opportunity to talk about it. Since the concept of citizen journalism was born, every person is able to be a source of media and help spread the message. Through the Internet we can create much awareness that was not possible years ago when we relied solely on classic media.
ICADPI – What can human rights activists do to improve their work?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – It is good to be more critical in what we are doing. I believe that Iranian human rights activists are able to act in a more coordinated manner. We are all aware that the Iranian civil society, especially those outside Iran, are not very coordinated. But, since recently, I see very positive signs. I think the Iranian civil society has made a lot of progress. In this process that has lasted 30 years, we have moved away from the point where we support political organizations, ideologies, and leaders. Now, a significant part of civil society is fighting for fundamental values, like the struggle against the death penalty.
ICADPI - How can Iranians outside the country help?
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – One thing we can do is coordinate our actions. There are millions of Iranians, mostly outside the country, who have the freedom to do what they want, however, unfortunately, only a small portion are involved in the struggle of human rights in Iran. We are not working coordinated enough and we are not trying hard enough to involve other Iranians as well. There is a lot of potential and energy not yet used. When I heard about the International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran, I knew it was a wonderful concept. I think this is the way to go. The campaign shows that Iranians can gather and unite on a single issue, no matter of their political differences. We cannot expect anything to happen over night. We have to just get started and make sure more people also join us.
