Ardavan Roozbeh/Radio Koocheh
ardavan@koochehmail.com
Translated by Avideh Motmaen-Far/Radio Koocheh
Once again, another sudden and unannounced execution of a protester of the Iranian election results arrested while demonstrating in the streets on the day of Ashura (holy day for the Shiites) in 2010, prompted a wave of outrage by the international community, Iranian human rights advocates and civil rights activists. On Sunday, 31 of January 2011, civil rights activists and other protesters gathered in front of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic condemning these executions in Iran.
“Zahra Bahrami”, the Iranian-Dutch citizen who was arrested during the protests on the day of Ashura, was interrogated at first because of her participation in the mass political protest, but had a trial in court for drug possession and was sentenced to death. This is while the main reason for her arrest, protesting, was still under objections and while she had not even received any response to the appeal against her death sentence.
This death sentence was so hastily executed that “Jinoos Sharifi” the defending attorney in this case, qualified it as unbelievable and said that the execution of the sentence should have been at least communicated to him. Zahra Bahrami ‘s daughter was also shocked by this unannounced execution and said that she could not believe that, while they were waiting for the sentence to be reviewed, her mother was executed.
“Jafar Kazemi” and “Mohamad Ali Haj Aghaii” who were arrested in the aftermath of the elections, were also executed earlier this year, without prior notice to their defending lawyers or families. The pretext for their execution was their association with the Modjahedin e Khalgh organization.
“Ali Saremi” was also executed without prior notice, for filming a protest in favor of the Modjahedin e Khalgh organization. Moreover, we have news of widespread executions from other prisons in Iran such as, Uromieh, Sanandaj, Kordestan, Qom, Mashhad etc.
Following the execution of this Iranian-Dutch citizen, the Dutch government took offense and stopped diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, however it would seem that the world at large remains insensitive to these executions.
Following the execution of this Iranian-Dutch citizen, the Dutch government took offense and stopped diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, however it would seem that the world at large remains insensitive to these executions.
The regime in Iran has recently launched a wave of executions that may hide a new move on their part. Have these people been undergoing a revenge process of the regime after the elections? Could the so-called leaders of Iran’s protest movement have prevented these acts of revenge by creating an atmosphere of national solidarity?
One of the protesters says:
”Today, is Sunday January 31 and we have gathered here before the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic. People are chanting: “The office of the crime should be closed.” This slogan is chanted because of the hangings and carnage in Iran. People in Egypt and Tunisia have gathered in the streets for changes in their countries. When Iranians see these scenes, it reminds them of when they took to the streets to fight for similar changes and gives them hope that once again the movement will be followed and will lead us to the final victory.”
The protest is in front of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The question is, does the Islamic Republic even care about this rally?
Another protester comments:
”The same way that they disregard human rights groups’ statements, the same way they kill people; and of course, they are now in the office and hear us, and certainly they will not like that in “Washington”, the United States capital, Iranians protest against this Interests Section and chant slogans against the Islamic Republic. But ultimately this regime is so shameless that I do not think that our presence in front of this office disturbs any of these gentlemen but Iranians cannot stay quiet and watch crimes happen in Iran.”
On Sunday, January thirty-first, two thousand and eleven, a group of civil activists and human rights advocates gathered in front of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington D.C. and, by protesting against the widespread executions, the new wave of arrests, and the widespread human rights violations in Iran, called the international community to react more seriously to these violations.
Another person in the protest explained:
”We gather in front of the office of the criminal Islamic Republic on Sunday and protest against the criminal regime. Today, we have gathered here because of the sudden and unannounced executions, to raise the world’s awareness to the fact that every 8 hours they execute someone in Iran according to the Islamic Republic’s laws.
One of the participants in this protest mentioned that the expansion of executions in the Islamic Republic of Iran is very disturbing and if we do not protest seriously, there would undoubtedly be a larger wave of executions.
Protesters before the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic showed their outrage about the executions in the Islamic Republic by chanting slogans such as “Stop the executions in Iran”, “stop the arrests and executions in the Islamic Republic”, and “trial for the execution perpetrators”. The demonstrators also, by marching towards the Egyptian Embassy, showed their support for the Egyptian protesters.
«نوشته فوق می تواند نظر نویسنده باشد و الزامن نظر رادیو کوچه نیست»
