Important: Click here to read this clarification about some of our previous statements regarding 'Moharabeh'.
Four Sunni political prisoners are reportedly at risk of imminent execution.
Hamed Ahmadi, Kamal Molayee, Jahangir Dehghani and Jamshed Dehghani are currently being held at Ghezel Hesar prison, near Karaj. They are at risk of imminent execution.
The execution date for the men was originally scheduled for the 26th of September, 2013, but was postponed at the last minute by the authorities. A court ordered that the executions be delayed for a month, following a wave of criticism from both the families of the men and the international community.
A month has now passed, leaving the men with no legal protection from execution. According to the organization 'Iran Human Rights' (IHR) there is increasing concern that the men may be executed 'in the coming days'.
Two of the men were reportedly tortured during the last month. Hamed Ahmadi was subjected to electric shocks, causing bleeding from the stomach. Kamal Molayee was severely beaten and kicked by prison guards, who broke at least one of his teeth.
The four men were arrested and kept in detention since June and July 2009. They were among a group of ten men who were then sentenced to death in 2011. Their court appearance lasted just ten minutes, and the men were handcuffed, shackled and blindfolded throughout. They were convicted of ‘enmity against God’ and ‘causing corruption on the Earth’. Six of the men were executed in December 2012.
The men were accused of involvement in the assassination of a Sunni scholar with ties to the government, who was killed in October 2009. The men maintain that it was physically impossible for them to have been involved, as they had been in prison since June and July 2009.
The men were all tortured in detention, and many were forced to 'confess' to false charges. The men reported that they were severely physically and psychologically tortured, and their families were threatened. Some were forced to sign papers without being allowed to read them.
The men were all active in propagating Sunni Islam within their communities, and in criticizing the regime. Sunnis face widespread persecution in the Shia-dominated Iran, and many of those who openly propagate Sunni Islam have been imprisoned or executed under false charges. In 2011, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated that "Sunni Muslim leaders regularly are intimidated and harassed by intelligence and security services and report widespread official discrimination."
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We urge all readers to raise awareness about our brothers. The regime has postponed the executions before, and we hope that under pressure they will be deterred from executing our brothers again. Urgent action is required to save the lives of our brothers in Iran. Please write letters and emails immediately to express your disapproval and to urgently demand a halt to the death penalty against our brothers. Please send copies to any Iranian diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. In addition we request that you send copies to any media organizations to help raise awareness.
You may use the template letter below.
Four Sunni political prisoners are reportedly at risk of imminent execution.
Hamed Ahmadi, Kamal Molayee, Jahangir Dehghani and Jamshed Dehghani are currently being held at Ghezel Hesar prison, near Karaj. They are at risk of imminent execution.
The execution date for the men was originally scheduled for the 26th of September, 2013, but was postponed at the last minute by the authorities. A court ordered that the executions be delayed for a month, following a wave of criticism from both the families of the men and the international community.
A month has now passed, leaving the men with no legal protection from execution. According to the organization 'Iran Human Rights' (IHR) there is increasing concern that the men may be executed 'in the coming days'.
Two of the men were reportedly tortured during the last month. Hamed Ahmadi was subjected to electric shocks, causing bleeding from the stomach. Kamal Molayee was severely beaten and kicked by prison guards, who broke at least one of his teeth.
The four men were arrested and kept in detention since June and July 2009. They were among a group of ten men who were then sentenced to death in 2011. Their court appearance lasted just ten minutes, and the men were handcuffed, shackled and blindfolded throughout. They were convicted of ‘enmity against God’ and ‘causing corruption on the Earth’. Six of the men were executed in December 2012.
The men were accused of involvement in the assassination of a Sunni scholar with ties to the government, who was killed in October 2009. The men maintain that it was physically impossible for them to have been involved, as they had been in prison since June and July 2009.
The men were all tortured in detention, and many were forced to 'confess' to false charges. The men reported that they were severely physically and psychologically tortured, and their families were threatened. Some were forced to sign papers without being allowed to read them.
The men were all active in propagating Sunni Islam within their communities, and in criticizing the regime. Sunnis face widespread persecution in the Shia-dominated Iran, and many of those who openly propagate Sunni Islam have been imprisoned or executed under false charges. In 2011, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated that "Sunni Muslim leaders regularly are intimidated and harassed by intelligence and security services and report widespread official discrimination."
--
We urge all readers to raise awareness about our brothers. The regime has postponed the executions before, and we hope that under pressure they will be deterred from executing our brothers again. Urgent action is required to save the lives of our brothers in Iran. Please write letters and emails immediately to express your disapproval and to urgently demand a halt to the death penalty against our brothers. Please send copies to any Iranian diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. In addition we request that you send copies to any media organizations to help raise awareness.
You may use the template letter below.
We are writing to demand an immediate halt to the planned execution of 32 Sunni men on death-row in Iran. Of particular urgency is the case of four prisoners, who could be executed within days. It is believed that the men were tortured and forced to make false confessions.
The four prisoners who are facing imminent execution are being held in Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran, Iran. The men, Jamshed Dehghani, Jahangir Dehghani, Kamal Molayee and Hamed Ahmadi were arrested in June and July 2009. They were among a group of ten men who were sentenced to death in 2011. Their court appearance was said to have lasted just ten minutes, and the men were handcuffed and blindfolded throughout. They were convicted of ‘enmity against God’ and ‘causing corruption on the Earth’. Six of the men were executed in December 2012.
Allegations of torture raise serious concerns about the reliability of the evidence presented against these men. It is reported that the men were severely physically and mentally tortured, and their families were threatened until they confessed. In addition, the men said they were forced to sign papers without being allowed to read them. We request an urgent investigation by the Iranian authorities into these allegations, and we demand that all evidences obtained through torture are disregarded.
Similar concerns are raised about the cases of the 28 other Sunni prisoners on death row in Iran, in Rajai Shahr prison, Evin prison, Kashan prison and Ghezel Hesar prison, Iran. The men are also believed to have been severely tortured and mistreated whilst in detention. We were informed that many were also kept in solitary confinement and were denied contact with their families or access to their lawyers. It is reported that the men were not involved in any violent or armed activities, and it is alleged that the men were instead targeted because they were active in peacefully propagating Sunni Islam within their community.
The four prisoners facing imminent execution were accused of involvement in the assassination of a Sunni scholar with ties to the government, who was killed in October 2009. The men maintain that it was physically impossible for them to have been involved, as they had been in prison since June and July 2009.
All 32 men were reportedly sentenced by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh, Head of branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In April 2011, the European Union named Moghisseh as an individual subject to sanctions for human rights violations. According to the Official Journal of the European Union, Moghisseh “issued long prison sentences during unfair trials for social, political activists and journalists and several death sentences for protesters and social and political activists.” It is extremely worrying that a judge facing such accusations is given the authority to impose the death penalty.
In light of the above we strongly express our concern at the injustice being committed in Iran against these 30 men. We demand an urgent halt to the death penalty against them. We urge that all evidences obtained through torture are disregarded. We call on the Iranian authorities to ensure the men are protected from torture and ill treatment. We request that they are granted all necessary medical treatment. We insist that they are allowed immediate and regular contact with their lawyers and family.
We respectfully await your reply,
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 OCTOBER 2013 TO:
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: [email protected]
Twitter: @khamenei_ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
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: [email protected]
Twitter: @khamenei_ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani
c/o Public Relations Office
Number 4, 2 Azizi Street intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected] (Subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)
Salutation: Your Excellency
And copies to:
Secretary General High Council for Human Rights
Mohammed Javad Larijani
c/o Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave
South of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected] (Subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name
Address 1
Address 2
Address 3
Fax number
Email address
Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
Name
Address 1
Address 2
Address 3
Fax number
Email address
Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.