Important: Click here to read this clarification about some of our previous statements regarding 'Moharabeh'.
Fears are growing for the welfare of two Sunni political prisoners in Iran, after a week has passed with no news on their whereabouts. The two men, Kaveh Vaisi (Khaled Mansour Balaghi) and Mokhtar Rahemi, were transferred from ward 10 of Rajai Shahr prison,Karaj, to an unknown location on Sunday 29th September.
A relative of the prisoners told the Human Rights News Agency (HRANA): “We are seriously concerned about them because they are sentenced to death and the authorities may want to execute them.”
“We ask all human rights organizations and activists not to keep silent.” He added.
The whereabouts of the two men remains unknown since Sunday when armed riot police were deployed to the prison to remove the two men from their cells. Prisoners had stood preventing prison guards from transferring the men to Ghezel Hesar prison, fearing they would be executed upon transfer.
There are currently at least 30 Sunni political prisoners facing execution in Iran, all of whom were sentenced to death in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The death sentence for all the men was issued by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh, a person named by the European Union in 2011 as being subject to sanctions for human rights violations.
The men all face charges such as 'Moharebeh' (enmity against God/ the state) or 'membership of a Salafi group'. The men have all been tortured, with many of them forced to 'confess' to crimes they have not committed. In a country where Sunnis face discrimination, being outspoken in spreading Sunni Islam and criticizing the government is dangerous. Many prominent Sunni figures and teachers have already been executed by the Iranian regime.
Mamousta (Shaykh) Kaveh Vaisi is a learned and respected Imaam, who is well-loved and renowned for his wisdom and good manners. He has memorized the Qur'aan and thousands of ahadeeth. He began studying Islam from an early age, and is educated in many fields including; aqeedah, tafseer, hadeeth, tazkiyyah, grammar, history and politics.
Mokhtar Rahemi was born in Sanandaj, Iran. He and his family have already suffered unimaginable pain due to the brutality of the Iranian regime. Mokhtar's brother, Farhad Rahimi, was assasinated on September 27th, 2009, with the alleged involvement of the Iranian government. Mokhtar has another brother, Bahman Rahimi, who is also in Rajai Shahr prison facing execution. Two of Mokhtar's cousins, Asghar Rahemi and Behnam Rahimi were executed in Ghezel Hesar prison on December 27th, 2012. His cousin, Mohammad Yavar Rahemi, is in Rajai Shahr prison, awaiting execution.
Please remember Kaveh Vaisi and Mokhtar Rahemi in your du'aa, and keep raising awareness for our brothers. They are unable to tell the world about the oppression they are facing, so it is our duty to speak on their behalf.
Fears are growing for the welfare of two Sunni political prisoners in Iran, after a week has passed with no news on their whereabouts. The two men, Kaveh Vaisi (Khaled Mansour Balaghi) and Mokhtar Rahemi, were transferred from ward 10 of Rajai Shahr prison,Karaj, to an unknown location on Sunday 29th September.
A relative of the prisoners told the Human Rights News Agency (HRANA): “We are seriously concerned about them because they are sentenced to death and the authorities may want to execute them.”
“We ask all human rights organizations and activists not to keep silent.” He added.
The whereabouts of the two men remains unknown since Sunday when armed riot police were deployed to the prison to remove the two men from their cells. Prisoners had stood preventing prison guards from transferring the men to Ghezel Hesar prison, fearing they would be executed upon transfer.
There are currently at least 30 Sunni political prisoners facing execution in Iran, all of whom were sentenced to death in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The death sentence for all the men was issued by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh, a person named by the European Union in 2011 as being subject to sanctions for human rights violations.
The men all face charges such as 'Moharebeh' (enmity against God/ the state) or 'membership of a Salafi group'. The men have all been tortured, with many of them forced to 'confess' to crimes they have not committed. In a country where Sunnis face discrimination, being outspoken in spreading Sunni Islam and criticizing the government is dangerous. Many prominent Sunni figures and teachers have already been executed by the Iranian regime.
Mamousta (Shaykh) Kaveh Vaisi is a learned and respected Imaam, who is well-loved and renowned for his wisdom and good manners. He has memorized the Qur'aan and thousands of ahadeeth. He began studying Islam from an early age, and is educated in many fields including; aqeedah, tafseer, hadeeth, tazkiyyah, grammar, history and politics.
Mokhtar Rahemi was born in Sanandaj, Iran. He and his family have already suffered unimaginable pain due to the brutality of the Iranian regime. Mokhtar's brother, Farhad Rahimi, was assasinated on September 27th, 2009, with the alleged involvement of the Iranian government. Mokhtar has another brother, Bahman Rahimi, who is also in Rajai Shahr prison facing execution. Two of Mokhtar's cousins, Asghar Rahemi and Behnam Rahimi were executed in Ghezel Hesar prison on December 27th, 2012. His cousin, Mohammad Yavar Rahemi, is in Rajai Shahr prison, awaiting execution.
Please remember Kaveh Vaisi and Mokhtar Rahemi in your du'aa, and keep raising awareness for our brothers. They are unable to tell the world about the oppression they are facing, so it is our duty to speak on their behalf.
We urge you to write an email or a letter to the Iranian authorities demanding a halt to the planned execution of our Sunni brothers. The addresses of the relevant authorities and a template letter can be found here.