Wednesday
Apr212010
Iran: The Latest Post-Election Death Sentences
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 16:07 
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports:....Motahareh Bahrami and Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam (husband and wife) and their son, Ahmad Daneshpour, together with two of their close friends, Rayhaneh Haj Ebrahim and Hadi Ghaemi (not related to the Campaign’s executive director of the same name) have been sentenced to death.
The family’s other son, Meysam Daneshpour, told the news-website Roozonline that his family members were arrested at their home following Ashura protests. In an interview with the Campaign, Meysam Daneshpour confirmed the execution sentences and said that his family did not have any recourse to an independent lawyer during the lower court’s prosecution. He also said family members had no access to detainees during the prosecution. “We did not have access to them [detainees] for two months, but now we can meet them on a regular weekly basis,” Meysam Daneshpour told the Campaign.
The Latest from Iran (21 April): Waiting for News
All five had court-appointed lawyers during the prosecution, who failed to inform the family of the execution sentence. Maysam Daneshpour told the Campaign that he had not received an official notification of the court hearing or death sentence.
During the appeals process, Mohammad Sharif, a prominent human rights lawyer, was able to represent the defendants and launch an appeal for Motahareh Bahrami, Rayhaneh Haj Ebrahim, and Hadi Ghaemi, and is under review at Branch 36. However, the appeals case for Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour had been sent to Branch 36 and already confirmed before Sharif could lodge a defense.
According to Meysam Daneshpour, intelligence agents arrested his parents, brother and their friend, Hajebrahimi, at the family’s home following Ashura protests on 27 December 2009, and not during a protest. Their lawyer Mohammad Sharif told the Campaign the defendants are charged with “deliberate cooperation with MKO” [Mujahedin-e-Khalq], “gathering and colluding against national security,” and “propaganda against the regime and in the interest of enemies.” The evidence supporting these charges included a trip by the parents to Iraq to visit another son, who is a member of MKO, sending videos and pictures to MKO, and participating in demonstrations....
In a similar post-Ashura case, 47-year-old teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari was charged with Moharebeh (enmity against God) and sentenced to death because of alleged emails and phone calls he had with MKO’s television broadcast abroad....
A lawyer who presents political prisoners told the Campaign that when authorities accuse political prisoners of being members of opposition groups such as MKO, it becomes impossible for Iranian media, human rights lawyers and defendants’ families to publicize these cases. “The Iranian media cannot touch on these cases, and lawyers like me will face severe difficulties to pursue our work if we advocate on behalf of such defendants regarding the nature of such affiliation,” the lawyer said. “This gives the authorities a free hand to use such punishments to terrify government critics and dissidents.”
Reader Comments (7)
“This gives the authorities a free hand to use such punishments to terrify government critics and dissidents.”
Nothing to add to that except for an interview with an unnamed high-ranking intelligence officer, published by Panjereh weekly (Zakani), in which he admits that the first row of post-election arrests was planned ahead as a preventive measure to fight 'soft war'. Apparently intel forces had anticipated major unrests, getting out of control, therefore arresting most senior reformists close to Maousavi and Karroubi.
"Our law is not appropriate to fight against 'soft war', so we had to take these measures [to save the system]. The 5th statement of Mosharekat party clearly speaks of establishing a secular system." http://www.aftabnews.ir/vdcjvheh.uqeaxzsffu.html
I really wonder why this interview is published now. If confirmed it would approve all earlier statements on rigging the elections.
RE "rigging", here's another paragraph from the Campaign's report:
Several sources in Tehran told the Campaign that they suspect phone calls and emails sent to these defendants were made by intelligence agents themselves and the defendants are victims of entrapment. Regardless of the origins of emails and phone calls presented as evidence against the defendants, the Campaign strongly condemns the use of such pedestrian communications as the basis of issuing death sentences.
RE "In a similar post-Ashura case, 47-year-old teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari was charged with Moharebeh (enmity against God) and sentenced to death because of alleged emails and phone calls he had with MKO’s television broadcast abroad…."
Here's more on this case:
The Plot that Led to Abdolreza Ghanbari’s Execution Sentence
http://persian2english.com/?p=9685
Not related to executions or the cases above, but there's a new charge in the unofficial. make-it-up-as-you-go, Iranian penal code: "Meeting With Mousavi and Karoubi". Indictments that have been drawn up by the judiciary since March 21st contain this new charge against media and political activists, and security officials have threatened most of those who visited Mousavi or Karoubi with arrest.
http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2010/april/20//the-new-charge-meeting-with-mousavi-and-karoubi.html
Does anyone have a list of all those sentenced to death because of the unrest?
"Does anyone have a list of all those sentenced to death because of the unrest?"
Bill, I do. It's been painstakingly slow getting them all up onto a website, but several of us are maintaining a list and updating here: http://iran.elple.net/ as often as we can. There are more names than appear on the site, and if you want any of the information I'm more than happy to provide it.
Joanne,
Thank you!
Bill