Rajai Shahr Prison: New Murder Under Torture

35 year old prisoner Hassan Ghashghaei died under torture in a solitary confinement cell in ward 1 of Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj (I.e. Gohardasht prison).

On August 11, 2010, after returning to prison from court, Hassan Ghashghaei was transferred to solitary confinement. He was blindfolded and his hands and feet were cuffed. The guards then brutally tortured him. He fell into a coma and died a few hours later.

Before his arrest, Hassan Ghashghaei clashed with security forces when he resisted against their oppressive behaviour. He was later arrested in Varamin (city in the south part of the Tehran province). He was imprisoned for five years. He was detained in ward 4 of Rajai Shahr prison but was later moved to ward 1, known as “the last verse of the song of death.” When Hassan Ghasghaei protested against the brutality of the guards, he was transferred to solitary confinement known as the “dog house”. He was murdered under torture.

Prison authorities usually report the death of prisoners under torture as death due to drug overdose or suicide. A number of prisoners have lost their lives in the torture chambers of this medieval-like prison. Prisoners are subjected to the most brutal tortures such as rape and breaking of the hands, feet, spine, and shoulders.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran condemn the crimes against humanity committed in the form of systematic and organized deadly tortures against political and ordinary prisoners. We ask the U.N. Secretary General and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other international authorities to take action to bring crimes committed by Ali Khamenei’s regime to the security council.

Human Rights and Democracy in Iran

Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban arrested in Tabriz for Facebook Activities

Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban arrested in Tabriz for Facebook Activities

28 year old Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban was arrested on July 18, 2010 in Tabriz. There is no news on her condition and she is not permitted to contact her family.

Security forces in Tabriz entered Sharareh’s home and, after searching the area and confiscating her personal items like her computer and phone, they arrested her at 6:00am on July 18, 2010.

She was taken to a detention centre run by the Tabriz Ministry of Intelligence. Later, she was transferred to Evin prison.

Her charges include “insulting what is sacred” and “having contacts with a foreign entity”. It is believed that her charges are related to her Facebook membership and activities.

Sharareh Farshi Shotorban has no history of political activism.

Mohammad Mostafaei in Turkey + A Letter to His Wife and Daughter on their Birthdays

A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced on Wednesday that Mohammad Mostafaei, who refused to turn himself in to Iran’s judicial system, is in Turkey and has the option to seek asylum. Mostafaei was detained by Turkish authorities and taken to an unknown location when problems were detected with his passport. Turkey Radikal newspaper who reported the news did not provide any additional information on the passport problems. Citizens of Iran do not require a Visa to enter Turkey.

Metin Corabatir, a UNHCR spokesperson in Turkey, announced, “We are monitoring developments concerning the case…The channels are open for him to apply for asylum.”

The Associated Press

A European diplomat in Ankara said Turkish authorities had contacted several Western embassies to see if they were willing to offer the lawyer asylum. The diplomat asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the case.

Turkey’s Interior Ministry, in charge of police and asylum cases, declined to comment.

Amnesty International last month accused Iran of harassing Mostafaei and said his wife and her brother had been detained. The lawyer maintained a blog that helped generate a wave of international outrage over death by stoning. Britain and the United States called for the practice to be scraped.

Iran said last month it would not carry out the stoning against Mostafaei’s client, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, for the time being, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging for adultery and other offenses.

Mohammad Mostafaei Writes a Letter to His Wife and Daughter: Happy Birthday

On August 1, 2010, the day of his daughter’s birthday, Mohammad Mostafaei wrote a letter to his wife Fereshteh Halimi and their daughter Parmida. Fereshteh Halimi’s birthday is on August 4, 2010.

Persian published by the Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners

Letter by MOHAMMAD MOSTAFAEI | August 1, 2010

Translation AZITA ERAANI for PERSIAN2ENGLISH

Dear Fereshteh and my darling Parmida,

Happy Birthday to both of you.

Seven years ago today (August 1st), my dear Parmida was born to a sweet mother who is now imprisoned while committing no crime. Parmida is very lonely today, because her mom and dad are not there to wish her a happy birthday. We had planned a birthday party for her and all her friends were invited. We wanted to tell her how much we love her. But what happened instead? Her mother was unjustly and illegally arrested and taken hostage. And worse yet, her uncle and grandfather were arrested as well. My Parmida is so lonely today. What has she done to deserve the sorrow of missing both her parents? She has not seen her mother now for one week; a mother who has focused her time and energy on the care of her child. Today Parmida cannot hear her mother call out her name or her father wish her a happy birthday.

Is the justice from a country that claims to be a pillar of Islam the separation of a family? Does justice mean to take a mother away from her child and illegally send her to prison? I wonder, if the same happened to you, would you find it acceptable? I wish you would at least consider her release for a day so she would be able to wish her only child a happy birthday. It has been one week and Fereshteh has only been allowed to speak with her mother once. She did not provide any information on her condition or her surroundings. Is this what you call humanity? Who would accept this kind of treatment for a mother?

Get over yourselves and call forth your conscience. Do not let the curse of a mother follow you. Do not torment a young child by keeping her away from her mother. Please do not let my little girl suffer like this, [living] in the void left by the absence of her mother and father. You are depriving Parmida of her mother’s nurture that she needs and depends on. Please allow this mother to take her child in her arms. I swear, in the seven years of Parmida’s life, her mother has never taken her eyes off of her once. She has dedicated herself entirely to her child’s best possible upbringing. She has never for a moment neglected or hesitated from loving her child, but today, you are depriving this child from that love, by keeping her innocent mother in jail. I swear to God, unjustly separating a mother from her child to trap another person is an unforgivable sin. If you are not afraid of justice in this world, be very afraid of Judgment Day! Free Parmida’s mother now!

I have said it before and will say it again: she is innocent. I emphasize that Fereshteh Halimi and her brother have no information on my whereabouts. It is only too clear that they are taken as hostages.

My darling Parmida,

Every time I look at the beautiful drawing that you made for me, I cry. I cannot wait to see you. I want to see you soon and take you to the playground in the park. Happy birthday and I wish you all the best. I promise that you will have every opportunity in this world and the brightest future. I send you and your dear mom kisses. May God be with you both. Your mom’s birthday is in three days (August 4th). I wish her a happy birthday as well. Your mother has tolerated my absence for the last ten years so that I could help the innocent, the needy, and all those unjustly sentenced to death by execution, hanging, or stoning. I ask you to tolerate our absence today.

My dearest Fereshteh and Parmida, I wish you a happy birthday and I kiss you both.

- Mohammad Mostafaei

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

Tehran Prosecutor Confirms: Jafar Kazemi Will Definitely Be Executed

Behrouz Kazemi (left), the son of Jafar Kazemi (right)

Based on reports received from Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, Tehran’s Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said to the family of Jafar Kazemi that the execution order will be carried out for certain.

Jafar Kazemi is 47 years old, married and with two children. He is a lithographer for academic books and illustrations at Amirkabir University. Kazemi was also imprisoned from 1981 to 1990 where he was witness to the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners.

On July 31, 2010, Jafar Kazemi’s family paid an expected visit to the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office in hopes to see Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi (Tehran Prosecutor). An assistant by the name of Alizadeh informed the family that Dolatabadi would not be speaking to them, but he did deliver a message: Jafar Kazemi will definitely be executed.

Jafar Kazemi’s file was sent to branch 31 of the High Council. An individual by the name of Salimi stated, “A verdict against inhumane and criminal executions must be sent to higher authority for confirmation. Recently, the leader from the Council of Experts refrained from reviewing the file, and the verdict of the court was confirmed and remained valid as it was. It was then sent to the Revolutionary Court for the sentence to be processed.”

Send a Letter to the UN/Media to Save the Life of Jafar Kazemi

Jafar Kazemi’s family also met with Bakhtiari, the Minister of Justice. Bakhtiari stated that he was unable to do anything because a pardon must first be attained from Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader.

On September 18, 2009, Kazemi was arrested by officials from the Ministry of Intelligence. He was taken to ward 209 of Evin prison and spent 74 days in solitary confinement where he was subjected to interrogation and extremely painful psychological and physical torture.

The head interrogator at the Ministry of Intelligence, who goes by the alias Alavi, and others present subjected Kazemi to torture to get him to do a televised interview. Alavi told Kazemi, “We need a few sacrifices for the sake of maintaining order and your name was selected.” Kazemi was then transferred to ward 350.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran considers death sentences issued to political prisoners by Ali Khamenei tantamount to a crime against humanity, and requests from the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to submit the file for Iran’s crimes against humanity to the UN Security Council to decide on the necessary actions that need to be taken.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran

MUST READ & WATCH | VOA Interviews Son of Death Row Prisoner Jafar Kazemi

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CNN interviews with Shohreh Aghdashloo Iranian-American Actress

Save Sakineh

Dear Friends,

Yesterday an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was saved by global protests from being stoned to death.

But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their heads.

The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know -- let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl

Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.

Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.

Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.

Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this brutality.Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl

In hope and determination,

Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team


SOURCES:

Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery

Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A


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