UPDATE: Iran: Protestor in Danger of Execution

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has warned that the international community’s inaction is 'a green light for hanging protesters'. An Iranian protestor, prosecuted in a post-Ashura trials on charges of Moharebeh, or “enmity against God”, is in danger of imminent execution, the Campaign has said in a recent press release. The Judiciary issued its verdict based on a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi. Women Living Under Muslim Laws joins other transnational civil society groups and organizations in calling for an immediate halt to the executions. Please register your protest by calling the office of the Grand Ayatollah.

The identity of the protestor sentenced to death is not yet certain as the Iranian Judiciary is purposefully refusing to provide accurate information regarding ongoing prosecutions and sentencing. On 9 February 2010, the Iranian Judiciary announced that nine post-election protestors had been convicted: one sentenced to execution and the other eight protestors sentenced to prison.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran continues that the news website irangreenvoice.com reported that an appeals court has upheld a death sentence for 20-year old Iranian student Mohammad Amin Valian, who was convicted of the charge of Moharebeh, or “enmity against God” on the basis of photographs showing him throwing rocks during a demonstration.  

So far, at least 13 protestors have been sentenced to execution, of whom two have been already executed. The defendants have had no access to internationally recognized standards of justice and due process. They have been denied the right of access to their lawyers. In the cases of the two defendants already executed, Arash Rahmani and Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, the men were executed in secret without their family or lawyers being notified. The courts are also handing out lengthy prison sentences, up to 15 years in prison, for students, activists, and journalists, following unfair trials.

According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the rulings show how the international community’s limp reaction to such egregious violations has emboldened the abuse of Iranian citizens, and a bid by Iran to join the UN Human Rights Council. The Council has shown virtually no inclination to confront Iran about its violent crackdown on human rights. The Council will hold elections in May 2010, and Iran is reportedly seeking election from the Asia regional block, where four seats are open for five contenders. 

“We see a direct relationship between the failure of the international community, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, to hold Iran accountable, and such a sentence,” stated Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

“Iran has received a clear message: Your atrocities will neither arouse any serious response from the Human Rights Council, nor block your bid for membership in the Human Rights Council,” he said.

The Campaign is calling for the head of Iran’s Judiciary to investigate the case, given that the actions by Valian in no way justify the charge of Moharebeh or his death sentence.

More than 100 Iranian students are apparently in detention for their political activity, while scores of others have been arrested, mistreated, and blocked from further education.

Women Living Under Muslim Laws joins other transnational civil society groups and organizations in calling for an immediate halt to the executions. We ask the Islamic Republic of Iran to honour its international commitments and to uphold human rights as expressed by its candidacy in the Human Rights Council (2006) and as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

We therefore respectfully maintain that the Iranian state, as a member of the international community and the United Nations is obligated to uphold its international commitments and should respect international law to ensure that all of the arrested protestors receive fair and transparent trials.

For the AI alert: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/nine-risk-execution-over-iran-protests-20100202 and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran alert: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/03/protestor-danger-execution/

Please call Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi on:

• 00982177509697
• 00982517840003
• 70- 00982133026066

You can also send his office a sms on this number: 0098 10000100

The website for online email messages is: http://www.makaremshirazi.org/persian/?p=cu

Please also write to:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
Office of the President,
Pasteur Avenue,
13168-43311,
Tehran,
Iran.
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of
Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info_leader@leader.ir 
via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary in Tehran
Mr Ali Reza Avaei
Karimkhan Zand Avenue
Sana’i Avenue, Corner of Ally 17, No 152
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: avaei@Dadgostary-tehran.ir 
Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei

And copies to:

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
Bureau of International Affairs, Office
of the Head of the Judiciary, Pasteur
St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e
Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com
Fax: + 98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)

Embassies

The Ambassador
Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran
16, Princes Gate
London SW7 1PT
Fax: 0044 20 7 589 4440
E-mail: info@iran-embassy.org.uk

The Ambassador
Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran
Bruxelles
Belgium
Fax: 00 32 2 7623915
E-mail: eiri.bxl@skynet.be
Embassy.iran.bxl@skynet.be

The Ambassador
Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran
Paris
France
Fax: 0033 1 407 00157
Email: ambiran@easynet.fr