Silencing The Opposition: Five More Executions Pending Approval in Iran

Tehran prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi announced that five Ashura Day detainees have been handed the death sentence and their file is currently at the stage of appeal. Iranian Students News agency (ISNA) reports that Dowlatabadi also announced that the public trial of a number of other people charged on Ashura Day will take place on Saturday.

cornered security forces huddled against each other while their motorcycles burn - Tehran, December 27

The opposition supporters have ignored repeated orders and threats by authorities to stop protesting. They have continued to hold rallies despite government's refusal to issue them permits. At least 8 people were killed by security forces during the Ashoura protests in Tehran on December 27 when the security forces opened fire on them and in some cases ran over them with police cars. The protesters fought back strongly after they came under attack by security and Basij militia on December 27.

Without going into details, Tehran Prosecutor merely claimed that the sentenced detainees have committed "serious crimes and activities." Earlier he had announced that the detainees were accused of connection with the dissident group, People's Mojahedin of Iran Organization.

On December 27, Ashura Day, a customary day of mourning and street processions for Shiites, election protesters once more gathered in the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the alleged fraud that brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad back to presidency in the June presidential elections. State forces, along with other pro-government forces in plain clothes clashed with protesters which resulted in fierce violence where at least seven people were killed and over five hundred people were arrested.

Iran's opposition movement is promising more protests on
February 11, the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution

Prior to any trials, Prosecutor-General of the country, Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejei, announced that at least three Ashura Day detainees will be executed.

He also added that four people arrested prior to Ashura Day events were also sentenced to death for participating in what he referred to as ""anti-Revolutionary incidences."

He claimed that the preliminary court has convicted them of "sedition, moharebeh (enmity against God) and activity against national security" and if the sentences are approved in the appeals court, they will be put into effect.

Tehran Prosecutor told ISNA that the two prisoners executed yesterday were "convicted of disturbances" and claimed they belonged to "anti-Revolutionary and monarchist groups."

Mohammadreza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were arrested in April and May of last year accused of ties to the Association of Iranian Monarchist organization and according to their lawyers, their case was in no way connected with the post-election events.

Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi announced that these two individuals were charged with "enmity against God, sedition, planning to assassinate officials, setting up explosives in neighbourhoods and activities against national security."

He claimed that the accused had confessed to their crimes and that their trial had been conducted in the presence of their defense attorneys.

A downed street sign in Tehran during Ashura protests on December 27
The street is named after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Yesterday, Nasrin Nastouh, Arash Rahmanipour's attorney told International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her client was "pressurized" during his arrest to make self-incriminatory confessions. She added that security forces had arrested Rahmaniour's sister who was pregnant at the time and forced him to make the said confessions.

Ms. Nastouh also claimed that she was not allowed to participate in his trial and her persistence in wanting to do so had led to threats of arrest from security officials.

Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the commencement of a wave of executions on "similar vaguely worded charges."

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director claimed the Islamic Republic is using the judiciary as an "instrument of repression." She added that the Iranian establishment has revealed that it will stop at nothing to stamp out the peaceful protests that persist since the election."

In the past month, four political prisoners in Tehran and Kurdistan were hanged and over 30 other dissidents are in imminent danger of execution.

Five more executions in Iran pending approval