The wave of closures and arrests ordered by Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi yesterday, September 8, signals a sinister new phase in the regime's crackdown.
On Monday, in what should now be considered the kickoff for an orchestrated operation, government agents searched the offices of the opposition committee looking into the abuse and deaths of protesters. The prosecutor's men had an appointment, supposedly to investigate the allegations of abuse, but upon arriving at the offices, they presented staff with a search warrant, sealed the locale, and confiscated documents and computer equipment, according to Alireza Beheshti, spokesman for the committee.
Beheshti, a senior adviser to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, was arrested at home the next day. He is the son of Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, one of the key figures of the revolution and the first judiciary chief of the Islamic Republic. As one of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's close companions, Ayatollah Beheshti, who was assassinated in 1981, is a devotional and iconic personality in Iran.
Alireza Beheshti's wife told Salaam News that five security agents arrived at their home at 5 PM and searched the premises for the next four hours. According to the same report, after arresting Alireza Beheshti, the prosecutor's men went to Ayatollah Beheshti's foundation and archives, where they seized documents and computers before shutting down the place.
The scope and pace of the operation had picked up earlier that day, as security forces raided the offices of Mehdi Karroubi, head of the reformist Etemad Melli Party, in Tehran's Jamshidiyeh district. The search and closure of Karroubi's office began at 3PM, party spokesman Esmail Gerami Moghaddam, who was in a meeting with Karroubi when the raid took place, told BBC Persian. 'The government agents began collecting documents, CDs, computers, and films,' according to Gerami Moghaddam. Karroubi has loudly denounced the abuse and deaths of protesters and has offered to provide judicial authorities with audio, video, and documentary evidence that he has compiled.
'The agents went from there to the Etemad Melli Party offices and sealed that as well,' Karroubi's son, Hossein, said in an interview with Radio Farda.
Security forces later visited the home of Morteza Alviri, head of the opposition committee investigating election fraud and also a member of Beheshti's abuse and deaths committee. Alviri's home was searched and documents and computer equipment were taken, before he was arrested.
The Association for the Defense of Prisoners, founded by human rights activist Emadeddine Baghi, no stranger to Iranian prisons, was also sealed yesterday. Baghi's whereabouts are currently unknown and it is unclear whether he has been arrested. Security agents gave no reason for the closure, but human rights lawyer Farideh Gheirat who runs the association told Radio Farda, 'We had contacts with these opposition committees, but our activities were legal. We provided lawyers for the prisoners. [The reason for the closure] could also be that we had received reports of abuse at Kahrizak detention center for the past two or three years and we had transmitted these reports to the judiciary.'
Mohammad Ozlati Moghaddam, in charge of the Mousavi campaign's veterans committee, was among those arrested yesterday. According to Ayandeh news, Ozlati Moghaddam is a retired Revolutionary Guards general who used to be posted to the IRGC Political Bureau. The political bureau operates under the auspices of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Security forces arrived at his home at 8:20 PM, as reported by Mowjeh Azadi.
Also among the arrested is Mohammad Davari, editor of the Etemad Melli Party's Saham News web site, who was at Karroubi's office when it was raided. At 8 PM GMT, Wednesday September 9, the site had not posted any new articles since 9:40 AM GMT, Tuesday September 8.
The last headline quotes Mehdi Karroubi: 'We shall all be present on Ghods Day.'
More than ever, the mass demonstrations planned for Ghods Day, Friday September 18, appear to be a test for the durability of the Green movement.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Dissent at home: Many within our family disagree with Khamenei, says his nephew
Mahmoud Tehrani:
Unfortunately, many Iranians believed until recently that this regime could be reformed... and that this could be done through words and policies. But this election and Ahmadinejad's rise to power made it clear that these people cannot be reformed through civil and lawful words, or through politics. Positions have thus been somewhat radicalized and opposition has become more forceful. These gentlemen (NB aghayoun or gentlemen is widely used in Iran to refer to regime insiders) would not confront the conservative wing [in this manner] several years ago. But after the elections, when it became apparent that they're not even prepared to give the post of president to anyone else and that they're willing to employ force to hold on to the presidency, positions were somewhat radicalized.
I even have news from within our family... many within the family disagreed with Ali Khamenei -- his words or the policies of the Islamic Republic -- but out of consideration [for him] they kept silent until the elections.
Radio Farda:
After the election, many people like Mehdi Karroubi strived to restore the rights of the citizens, whom they believed had been wronged. Why, in the face of such peaceful actions, are they treating people like Mr. [Alireza] Beheshti (NB head of the committee investigating the deaths and abuse of protesters, arrested yesterday) or Mr. [Morteza] Alviri (NB head of the committee looking into election fraud, arrested yesterday), or even Mr. Karroubi [whose office was shut down yesterday], in this manner?
Mahmoud Tehrani:
The Islamic Republic has always employed violent words and deeds against the people and any opposition. They started killing from the day they came to power. They see anyone who does not repeat what they say or disagrees with them -- be they clerics or western-suited -- as mohareb or against God. They consider themselves to be God and that's how it's been from the start. Violence, for this portion of the Islamic Republic, has become... not a habit, but a religious duty.
Radio Farda:
Who's paying the price for this? Political parties, the people, or ultimately the regime itself?
Mahmoud Tehrani:
Any change has a price. It seems that everyone is paying a price now.
Radio Farda:
In the past, Ayatollah Khamenei had the last word in resolving political disputes. Has Ayatollah Khamenei been able to handle things successfully until now?
Mahmoud Tehrani:
I think that my uncle, Ali Khamenei, is a tool for Ahmadinejad, Mesbah Yazdi, and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). If he's not an accomplice in their crimes, he's at least their tool. He can't do anything. If he takes one step back, his leadership will be destroyed and his side will fall apart. I don't even think that he has had much power for years. It is not impossible that all these operations are being led by the IRGC and Ali Khamenei has to go along to hold on to his position. He won't do or say anything. We haven't heard anything in particular from Ali Khamenei since June 14. He's just repeated Ahmadinejad's words.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Karroubi's office is shut down by Tehran prosecutor
The office of Mehdi Karroubi, opposition leader and head of the Etemad Melli (National Trust) Party, was shut down today, September 8, on orders of Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi.
The party's spokesman, Esmail Gerami Moghaddam, told the Iranian Labor News Agency, that government agents had come to the office, situated in Tehran's Jamshidiyeh district, around 3 PM and presented 'the honorable prosecutor's warrant.'
The move appears to dash any hopes that the opposition may have harbored about the relative leniency of the new Tehran prosecutor after he replaced the notoriously hard-line Saeed Mortazavi.
'The government agents began collecting documents, CDs, computers, and films,' according to Gerami Moghaddam. Karroubi has loudly denounced the abuse and deaths of protesters and has offered to provide judicial authorities with audio, video, and documentary evidence that he has compiled.
Karroubi's son, Hossein, told Radio Farda that documents are also stored in other places. 'So it's not as if they have taken all the documents by closing this office,' he told the Persian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Yesterday, security forces confiscated equipment, documents, and a laptop computer at the offices of the committee set up by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Karroubi to investigate the deaths and abuse of protesters. The committee spokesman, Alireza Behshti, told Saham News, 'Yesterday, agents had an appointment to come to the office, supposedly to ask some questions about various issues. But when they got there, they pulled out a warrant.'
Gerami Moghaddam told BBC Persian that the agents interrogated Karroubi and his visitors, before escorting them out of the building.
The editor of the Etemad Melli web site was arrested during the search, according to Gerami Moghaddam.
The party's spokesman, Esmail Gerami Moghaddam, told the Iranian Labor News Agency, that government agents had come to the office, situated in Tehran's Jamshidiyeh district, around 3 PM and presented 'the honorable prosecutor's warrant.'
The move appears to dash any hopes that the opposition may have harbored about the relative leniency of the new Tehran prosecutor after he replaced the notoriously hard-line Saeed Mortazavi.
'The government agents began collecting documents, CDs, computers, and films,' according to Gerami Moghaddam. Karroubi has loudly denounced the abuse and deaths of protesters and has offered to provide judicial authorities with audio, video, and documentary evidence that he has compiled.
Karroubi's son, Hossein, told Radio Farda that documents are also stored in other places. 'So it's not as if they have taken all the documents by closing this office,' he told the Persian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Yesterday, security forces confiscated equipment, documents, and a laptop computer at the offices of the committee set up by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Karroubi to investigate the deaths and abuse of protesters. The committee spokesman, Alireza Behshti, told Saham News, 'Yesterday, agents had an appointment to come to the office, supposedly to ask some questions about various issues. But when they got there, they pulled out a warrant.'
Gerami Moghaddam told BBC Persian that the agents interrogated Karroubi and his visitors, before escorting them out of the building.
The editor of the Etemad Melli web site was arrested during the search, according to Gerami Moghaddam.
Man shot in front of family by plainclothesmen in holy city of Ghom
Plainclothesmen opened fire on a civilian in the holy city of Ghom, today September 8, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran.
The association's news brief in Farsi reads: 'At noon today, September 8, a middle-aged man (35 to 40 years old), who was driving his wife and young child down 9th Dey Street towards the Kashan Beltway in a Pride model 132, was arrested by a group of plainclothesmen in a Peugeot GLX.'
HRA-Iran's statement continues: 'The plainclothesmen pulled in front of his car and blocked his way. As they beat the man in front of his wife and young child, they tried to haul him into their automobile. The man fought back and tried to escape. The plainclothesmen opened direct fire in the middle of passersby and shot the man in the shoulder.'
'As he chanted political slogans like 'Death to Khamenei', he and his family were transferred to the plainclothesmen's car and taken away to an unknown location. Neither the man's identity, nor that of the plainclothesmen has been determined,' concludes the HRA-Iran report.
The association's news brief in Farsi reads: 'At noon today, September 8, a middle-aged man (35 to 40 years old), who was driving his wife and young child down 9th Dey Street towards the Kashan Beltway in a Pride model 132, was arrested by a group of plainclothesmen in a Peugeot GLX.'
HRA-Iran's statement continues: 'The plainclothesmen pulled in front of his car and blocked his way. As they beat the man in front of his wife and young child, they tried to haul him into their automobile. The man fought back and tried to escape. The plainclothesmen opened direct fire in the middle of passersby and shot the man in the shoulder.'
'As he chanted political slogans like 'Death to Khamenei', he and his family were transferred to the plainclothesmen's car and taken away to an unknown location. Neither the man's identity, nor that of the plainclothesmen has been determined,' concludes the HRA-Iran report.
Monday, September 7, 2009
List of 72 dead protesters published by opposition web site
The Norooz news site, close to the Islamic Iran Participation Front, published a list of 72 'martyrs who have been identified thus far' on Friday, September 4. The list has been compiled by the committee set up by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi to investigate the deaths and arrests following the election.
To elevate these individuals beyond statistics, I've added photos, footage, and additional information in italics when possible. I'll update this list when more information becomes available.
In recent days, numerous inaccurate statistics on the number of dead protesters have been published by the coup plotters. The latest incorrect information was given by the head of the Revolutionary Guards. In response to such baseless remarks which aim to whitewash the situation and distract public opinion from the crimes committed during the post-election events, Norooz news site is publishing the names of the martyrs so that slumbering consciences may perhaps be awakened, so that the process of hiding clear facts may come to an end, that they may accept that such acts and crimes were carried out by the coup's agents, and that they may stop covering up these crimes.
The names and detailed information of 72 martyrs who have been identified so far are published in this article. Efforts to identify others and complete this list continue. This list of martyrs is not exhaustive.
Norooz points out that IRGC commander Jafari, in his latest claim, said that only 27 people had been killed in the recent events, that only 7 of them were protesters, and that the remaining 20 were revolutionary forces or Basijis who had been killed by demonstrators.
Norooz is publishing two lists of martyrs. The first list contains the identities of 25 martyrs whose families have contacted the organizations named by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Hojjatoleslam Mehdi Karroubi in order to declare the martyrdom of their child or relative.
The second list contains the names of martyrs whose families are under pressure and have not contacted the authorities named by Mr. Mousavi and Mr. Karroubi.
First List
(Viewer discretion: Additional information courtesy Human Rights Activists News Agency.)
(Additional information courtesy Iran News Agency.)
(Footage of Kianoush playing music)
(updated 13 January 2010. Video showing Sohrab and his mother demonstrating days before he was killed, click here)
(Video compilation of Sohrab's story)
Eftekhari worked for Abrar Eghtesad, an economics publication.
(Viewer discretion: Footage of Neda's death. Two videos synchronized side by side.)
(Interview with Neda's mother in English)
A friend who saw Amir's body told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that he had been tortured: 'He had a fractured skull, one of his eyes was almost crushed, all the nails on his toes had been extracted, and all of his body was bruised.' (courtesy Radio Farda and Golnaz Esfandiari)
(updated 13 January 2010, video of an interview conducted by the Voice of America with Amir's father, click here)
7. Moharram Chegini Gheshlaghi, 34, buried section 256, row 146, plot 13
8. Massoud Khosravi, killed June 15 in Tehran's Azadi Square, buried in Behesht Zahra
10. Ramin Ramezani, 29, died of blood clots in his chest after being released from prison, buried section 257, row 46, plot 32.
Mohsen's death provoked the first outcries in the conservative camp because his father was a senior adviser to former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezai, who also ran for president in the June election. After first claiming he had died of meningitis, the authorities finally released a medical forensic report which admitted his death was due to blows from a blunt object while he was in custody.
(Footage of Mohsen's memorial service)
(Footage of VOA's interview with Ashkan's mother, Zahra Nikpeyma. Nikpeyma: 'Ashkan had just stepped out to go to a friend's house, five minutes away. There were no protests in our street. Despite their claim that they don't open fire in uncrowded streets, they shot Ashkan in a street where not even ten people go by in a year...')
Amir Hossein leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter, according to this piece by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, which provides details of the day of his death.
(Photo of the flier at Amir Hossein's 7th-day memorial service courtesy of the Human Rights Activists News Agency )
(Saeed's father speaks of his death, courtesy of the Iran News Agency. Only in Farsi for now.)
Initial reports said that Mostafa had been shot on his rooftop by a sniper as he was chanting Allaho-Akbar.
(Footage of Mostafa's memorial service)
(Update - 22 October 2009 - footage of Mostafa's funeral in Mashhad)
(Updated 18 January 2010 - footage of a memorial service where some participants protest when the presiding cleric begins saying that foreign media fooled the post-election protesters, click here.)
16. Ali Fathalian, killed June 20 in front of Lolagar mosque, buried section 9, row 110, plot 22.
Resident of Shokoufeh Street, Roudaki neighborhood, Tehran. (courtesy Iran Crime Watch)
17. Hadi Fallahmanesh, 29, merchant, killed in Tehran, buried section 53 of Behesht Zahra.
18. Ahmad Kargar Nejati, died in hospital as a result of blows, buried section 213, row 15, plot 35
Behzad disappeared for six weeks before his family finally found his body. He has been buried in Behesht Zahra cemetery. (courtesy RFE/RL article)
20. Nader Nasseri, killed June 20 in Tehran's Khosh Street, buried in the town of Babol
Ashoura 117 Basij base, from the rooftop of which shots were fired at demonstrators, is on Mohammad Ali Jenah Street, next to Azadi Square. Footage of this on Britain's Channel 4.
(Piece written on Massoud by Ali Shakouri Rad of the Islamic Iran Participation Front. Only in Farsi for now).
(Photo of protester holding up a poster of Mehdi)
Mohammad Ali Jenah Street, next to Azadi Square, is also the location of the Ashoura 117 Basij base, from the rooftop of which shots were fired at demonstrators. Footage of this shooting on Britain's Channel 4.
(Video in memory of Nasser)
25. Mahmoud Raisi Najafi, laborer, killed June 28, shot by security forces in Azadi Square on June 15, died 13 days later at home.
Second list
26. Mina Ehterami, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, buried secretly without her family being notified.
(Footage of the aftermath of the attack on Tehran University dormitories)
27. Neda Assadi
28. Saeed Esmaili Khanbebin, 23, killed by blows to the head
Saeed's body was returned to his family only after they paid security forces, according to news reports.
29. Morad Aghassi
31. Vahed Akbari, 34, freelancer, killed June 20 in Tehran's Vanak Street, shot in the side, buried in section 261 on June 23.
32. Mohsen Entezami
33. Mohsen Imani, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, buried secretly without his family being notified.
34. Fatemeh Barati, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, buried secretly without her family being notified.
35. Mohammad Hossein Barzegar, 25, freelancer, killed June 17 in Tehran's 7th Tir Square, shot in the head, buried in section 302 on June 21 after family's pledge was obtained.
36. Jafar Barvayeh, lecturer at Ahvaz's Chamran University, PhD student at Tehran University, killed in Tehran's Baharestan Square, shot in the head
Yaghoub was reportedly taken to Loghman Hakim Hospital and registered in the ICU after he was shot.
(Interview with Yaghoub's mother. Only in Farsi for now)
38. Sorour Boroumand, 58, killed June 15 at Tehran's Mohammad Ali Jenah Street.
Mohammad Ali Jenah Street, next to Azadi Square, is also the location of the Ashoura 117 Basij base, from the rooftop of which shots were fired at demonstrators. Footage of this on Britain's Channel 4.
39. Hamed Besharati, 26, killed June 20 in Tehran, shot by security forces
40. Farzad Jashni, killed June 20 in Tehran
A native of the town of Abdanan (not Abadan), Ilam province, son of Seyed Jafar, courtesy Rooz article.
42. Mohsen Haddadi, 24, computer programmer, killed June 30 in Tehran's Nosrat Street, shot in the forehead, buried in section 262 on June 23.
43. Shalir Khazari, killed June 16 in Tehran's Baharestan Square.
44. Fatemeh Rajabpour, 38, killed on June 15 in Tehran's Mohammad Ali Jenah Street.
Mohammad Ali Jenah Street, next to Azadi Square, is also the location of the Ashoura 117 Basij base, from the rooftop of which shots were fired at demonstrators. Footage of this on Britain's Channel 4.
45. Babak Sepehr, 35, killed June 20 in Tehran, shot by security forces.
46. Fahimeh Salahshour, 25, high-school graduate, killed on June 15 in Tehran's Vali Asr Square, died in a hospital, internal bleeding from blows to the head sustained on June 14.
47. Tina Soudi, university student, killed on June 20 in Enghelab Square, shot.
48. Hassan Shapouri
49. Ali Shahedi, 24, killed June 21 in Tehran Pars, died in uncertain circumstances after being arrested and transferred to a police station, death certificate says he died of unknown causes, family believes he died from blows received in the police station.
50. Kasra Sharafi, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, buried secretly without his family being notified.
51. Kambiz Shoaie, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, buried secretly without his family being notified.
53. Saeed Reza Tabatabaie, 30, degree in accounting, killed June 20 in Tehran's Azerbaijan Street, shot in the head, buried in section 259 on June 24 after family's pledge was obtained.
54. Vahid Reza Tabatabaie, 29, degree in English, killed June 24 in Tehran's Baharestan Square, shot in the head, buried in section 308 on June 27.
56. Salar Tahmasebi, 27, business student in Rasht University, killed June 20 in Tehran's Jomhouri Street, shot in the forehead, buried in section 254 on June 23.
58. Abolfazl Abdollahi, 21, electrical sciences student, killed June 20 in front of Tehran's Sharif University, shot in the back of the head, buried in section 248 on June 23.
59. Hamid Araghi, killed in Azadi Street, shot.
60. Kaveh Ali Pour, 19, killed June 20 in Tehran
Security forces demanded a 'bullet fee' of $3,000 to release Kaveh's body. His father, a doorman at a clinic and a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, told authorities he could not afford this and finally obtained his son's body without paying the price after he pledge Kaveh would not be buried in tehran. His son was laid to rest in Rasht.
(Wall Street Journal article on Kaveh)
61. Hossein Alef, killed June 17 in Isfahan.
62. Reza Fattahi
63. Parissa Kolli, 25, literature graduate, killed June 21 in Tehran's Keshavarz Boulevard, shot in the neck, buried in section 259 on June 23.
66. Hamid Medah Shourcheh, activist in Mousavi's campaign HQ, killed June 15 in Mashhad, died of his injuries several days after being released, brain hemorrhage.
67. Maryam Mehr Azin, 24, killed June 20 in Tehran, shot by security forces.
69. Iman Namazi, engineering student at Tehran University, killed June 15 in Tehran's University Street, died in the attack of security forces on this street.
70. Mohammad Nikzadi, 22, engineering graduate, killed June 16 in Tehran's Vanak Square, shot in the chest, buried in section 257.
71. Iman Hashemi, 27, freelancer, killed June 20 in Tehran's Azadi Street, shot in the eye, buried in section 259 on June 24.
72. Milad Yazdan Panah, 30, killed June 20 in Tehran, shot by security forces.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
