Important: Click here to read this clarification about some of our previous statements regarding 'Moharabeh'.
The situation of Sunnis in Iran is well known, with many living in secrecy due to fear of persecution for their beliefs. Sunni Muslims are a minority in Iran, and they live under continuous oppression from the Shia government. Preachers and well-known Sunnis are persecuted by the authorities, and are often charged with being a 'Wahhabi', a 'crime' that carries the death penalty in Iran.
Sunni prisoners in Iran are subject to horrific levels of torture and neglect, and are discriminated against solely due to their beliefs. A source, who cannot be identified due to security reasons, testified about the shocking treatment of prisoners in an interview with the human rights group 'International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran' (ICHRI).
The situation of Sunnis in Iran is well known, with many living in secrecy due to fear of persecution for their beliefs. Sunni Muslims are a minority in Iran, and they live under continuous oppression from the Shia government. Preachers and well-known Sunnis are persecuted by the authorities, and are often charged with being a 'Wahhabi', a 'crime' that carries the death penalty in Iran.
Sunni prisoners in Iran are subject to horrific levels of torture and neglect, and are discriminated against solely due to their beliefs. A source, who cannot be identified due to security reasons, testified about the shocking treatment of prisoners in an interview with the human rights group 'International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran' (ICHRI).
"When we are arrested, we are severely tortured."
Describing the conditions at Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, Iran, the source told the ICHRI that many prisoners were convicted based on dubious evidence. "Most of them accepted [the charges against them] under torture. When we are arrested, we are severely tortured," he explained.
Sunni prisoners endure hardships that are not faced by other prisoners. They do not have beds, and instead sleep side-by-side on the floor. Many face extended periods of solitary confinement and torture, on orders from the Intelligence Ministry.
Prison forces abuse Sunni inmates on account of their religious beliefs, and prisoners are too scared to even seek medical attention due to the mistreatment they face. Shahram Ahmadi, a prisoner facing execution for 'engaging in religious activities', was beaten until he fell unconscious while being transferred to the prison hospital. He was insulted for issues pertaining to Sunni Islam, such as his beard and his beliefs regarding the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Sunni prisoners endure hardships that are not faced by other prisoners. They do not have beds, and instead sleep side-by-side on the floor. Many face extended periods of solitary confinement and torture, on orders from the Intelligence Ministry.
Prison forces abuse Sunni inmates on account of their religious beliefs, and prisoners are too scared to even seek medical attention due to the mistreatment they face. Shahram Ahmadi, a prisoner facing execution for 'engaging in religious activities', was beaten until he fell unconscious while being transferred to the prison hospital. He was insulted for issues pertaining to Sunni Islam, such as his beard and his beliefs regarding the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
"We will kill you like a dog, because you look like a dog."
A prisoner, who was imprisoned for his religious activities, said that the treatment of Shahram Ahmadi was so brutal that it caused fellow prisoners to cry, simply by witnessing his condition. Mr Ahmadi, who is 28 years old, had been denied medical treatment for bleeding from the kidneys, until guards finally agreed to allow him to go to hospital.
On the way there, he was beaten with batons and insulted. Prison guards threatened him, telling him: "We will kill you like a dog, because you look like a dog." They referred to his dead brother, saying, "Just as we hanged your brother, Bahram Ahmadi, we will kill you, too."
On the way there, he was beaten with batons and insulted. Prison guards threatened him, telling him: "We will kill you like a dog, because you look like a dog." They referred to his dead brother, saying, "Just as we hanged your brother, Bahram Ahmadi, we will kill you, too."
"[They confessed ] on camera for fear of further torture..."
Many prisoners were also forced to 'confess' to false charges on camera, with their statements later used as evidence against them. ICHRI described how prisoners refused to make false confessions, but intelligence agents threatened them, saying, "If you do not confess, it will end up working against you." Agents also threatened the safety of their loved ones, saying, "This will be disadvantageous to your families.”
"Men arrested for the 'crime' of distributing books and CDs"
Possibly one of the most worrying aspects of these cases is that all the men involved have not been charged with violence. In fact, many face charges such as 'acting against national security'. It is clear that the Iranian government is using any excuse to silence Sunni Muslim voices in Iran.
It is quite astonishing that the Iranian regime continues to get away with sentencing men to death for petty charges. Inmates can remain imprisoned for years without sentence, until they are told they are to be executed for the ambiguous charge of "acting against national security". Some, like the brothers Jamshid and Jahangir Dehghani, were reportedly arrested for the 'crime' of distributing books and CDs about Sunni Islam. They have since been convicted of charges such as 'Moharebeh' (enmity against God).
It is quite astonishing that the Iranian regime continues to get away with sentencing men to death for petty charges. Inmates can remain imprisoned for years without sentence, until they are told they are to be executed for the ambiguous charge of "acting against national security". Some, like the brothers Jamshid and Jahangir Dehghani, were reportedly arrested for the 'crime' of distributing books and CDs about Sunni Islam. They have since been convicted of charges such as 'Moharebeh' (enmity against God).
Currently, there are a total of 25 Sunni prisoners known to be facing execution in Iran, although the real figure could be much higher. At present, we have the details of 20 of the prisoners, and links to petitions to demand the stop to their execution. These men could be executed at any moment. It is clear they are innocent of any crime, and are victims of persecution by the Iranian government.
We need to act now to save their lives. Your signature could make the difference between life and death for these men!
If we all make a small effort, in signing the petition and raising awareness, we could help save the lives of innocent people.
For a full list of petitions please visit: http://supportmybrothers.weebly.com/1/post/2013/08/urgent-action-17-sunnis-to-be-executed.html
Or click 'Read More'
(Sources: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/06/sunni_rajaee_shahr-2/
http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/06/sunni_rajaee_shahr/)
We need to act now to save their lives. Your signature could make the difference between life and death for these men!
If we all make a small effort, in signing the petition and raising awareness, we could help save the lives of innocent people.
For a full list of petitions please visit: http://supportmybrothers.weebly.com/1/post/2013/08/urgent-action-17-sunnis-to-be-executed.html
Or click 'Read More'
(Sources: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/06/sunni_rajaee_shahr-2/
http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/06/sunni_rajaee_shahr/)
Sign the Petitions
Why are there separate petitions?
We understand it would be more convenient for us to only have to sign one petition. However, there are many reasons for having a separate petition for each prisoner, and we urge you to sacrifice a few extra minutes of your time to help save your brothers' lives.
The reasons for having separate petitions are very sad:
Please take a few minutes to sign each petition. The process is fairly quick and easy (once you have filled out one petition your details are automatically filled in on the rest of the petitions, all you have to do is click each link and enter the security code). This is the least we can do to try and save the lives of these innocent men.
Petitions
Petitions added 10/09/2013 for 7 sunnis facing imminent execution (article):
Petitions added 03/09/2013 (article):
Petitions added 27/08/2013 (article):
Why are there separate petitions?
We understand it would be more convenient for us to only have to sign one petition. However, there are many reasons for having a separate petition for each prisoner, and we urge you to sacrifice a few extra minutes of your time to help save your brothers' lives.
The reasons for having separate petitions are very sad:
- Each prisoner is facing execution individually, and could be executed at any moment. If a prisoner is killed, the petition will contain 'outdated' information and could be disregarded by the relevant authorities.
- Unfortunately, more prisoners are likely to be added to death row, meaning that new petitions will have to be made anyway.
- The sentences the prisoners face are liable to change, and once again could lead to the petition having 'outdated' information.
Please take a few minutes to sign each petition. The process is fairly quick and easy (once you have filled out one petition your details are automatically filled in on the rest of the petitions, all you have to do is click each link and enter the security code). This is the least we can do to try and save the lives of these innocent men.
Petitions
Petitions added 10/09/2013 for 7 sunnis facing imminent execution (article):
- Petition for Anvar Khezri: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-anvar-khezri.html
- Petition for Sheikh Farhad Salemi: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-farhad-salemi.html
- Petition for Khosro Besharat: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-khosro-besharat.html
- Petition for Davoud Abdullahi: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-davoud-abdullahi.html
- PETITIONS FOR THE THREE REMAINING PRISONERS COMING SOON (IN SHA ALLAH)- PLEASE SUBSCRIBETO STAY UPDATED
Petitions added 03/09/2013 (article):
- 18.Petition to STOP the execution of Kaveh Vaisi a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-kaveh-vaisi.html
- 19.Petition to STOP the execution of Kaveh Sharifi a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-kaveh-sharifi.html
- 20. Petition to STOP the execution of Loghman Amini a political prisoner in a prison in Iran: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-loghman-amini.html
Petitions added 27/08/2013 (article):
- 1. احمد نصیری را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Ahmad Naseri, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-ahmad-naseri.html
- 2. طالب ملکی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Talib Malaki, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-talib-malaki.html
- 3. حامد احمدی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Hamed Ahmadi, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-hamed-ahmadi.html
- 4. ادریس نعمتی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Adrees Neimati, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-adrees-neimati.html
- 5. جهانگیر دهقانی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Jahangir Dehghani, brother of Jamshid Deghani who is also sentenced to death, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-jahangir-dehghani.html
- 6. جمشید دهقانی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Jamshid Dehghani, brother of Jahangir Dehghani who is also sentenced to death, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-jamshid-dehghani.html
- 7. صدیق محمدی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Iranian political prisoner Sadiq Mohammadi:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-sadiq-mohammadi.html
- 8. شهرام احمدی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Shahram Ahmadi, a political prisoner in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-shahram-ahamdi.html
- 9. وریا قادری فرد را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Iranian political prisoner Varia Ghaderifard:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-varia-ghaderifard.html
- 10. بهروز شا نظری را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Behrooz Shanzari a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-behrooz-shanzari.html
- 11. فرزاد شا نظری را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Farzad Shanzari, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-farzad-shanzari.html
- 12. مختار رحیمی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Mokhtar Rahemi, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-mokhtar-rahemi.html
- 13. پوریا محمدی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Pooria Mohammmadi a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-pooria-mohammadi.html
- 14. بهمن رحیمی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Bahman Rahemi, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-bahman-rahemi.html
- 15. کمال ملأیی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Kamal Malaie, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-kamal-malaie.html
- 16. محمد غریبی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Mohammad Gharebi, a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-mohammad-gharebi.html
- 17. محمد یاور رحیمی را اعدام نکنید
- Petition to STOP the execution of Mohammad Yavar Rahemi a political prisoner in a prison in Iran:
- http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/do-not-execute-mohammad-yavar-rahemi.html
- — with احمد نصيرى, طالب ملكى, حامد احمدى, محمد غريبى and بهروز شاه نمكى.