Iran: six men facing execution for alleged links to banned group

Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei (m),

Ali Saremi (or Sarami) (m),

Abdloreza Ghanbari (m),

Ahmad Daneshpour Moghaddam (m),

Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam (m)

Ja’far Kazemi is now known to be among six men facing execution in Iran for their alleged links to the banned group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). In some cases, these links may amount to no more than having contact with family members linked to the PMOI. The six could be executed at any time.

Tehran’s prosecutor announced on 15 May that the death sentences of Ja’far Kazemi, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, Mohammad Ali Saremi (or Sarami), Abdolreza Ghanbari (or Qanbari) and father and son, Ahmad and Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam, were upheld by the Appeal Court after they were found guilty of moharebeh (enmity against God) in relation to their alleged links to the PMOI. He also stated that the three had asked for a pardon. Two women, Motahareh (Simin) Bahrami and Rayhaneh Haj Ebrahim, and one other man, Hadi Gha’emi have had their death sentences commuted to prison terms. Mohammad Amin Valian was acquitted of moharebeh on appeal and his sentence commuted to imprisonment and payment of a fine.

Ja’far Kazemi is also believed to have been convicted of “propaganda against the system”. He was accused of participating in mass anti-government protests in September 2009, but not of committing any violent acts. Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei is thought to have faced similar charges. Mohammad Ali Saremi is believed to have been held since 2007 after speaking at an event commemorating the summary executions of thousands of people in Iranian prisons in 1988. He was sentenced to death in December 2009 for allegedly being a member of the PMOI.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ja’far Kazemi is reported to have been interrogated by security forces for months, and was pressured to make a televised “confession”, which he refused to do. On 26 April 2010, he learned that his death sentence had been confirmed by an appeal court. His lawyer, who has had limited access to her client, has requested that the Head of the Judiciary’s office conducts an extraordinary review. The execution can still go ahead at any time unless this request is accepted. Ja’far Kazemi was previously imprisoned for membership of the PMOI in the 1980s or 1990s.

Teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari, aged 42, was arrested after the Ashoura demonstrations which he was accused of participating in. Held in section 2A of Evin Prison, which is under the control of the Revolutionary Guards, he was tried on 30 January and made a “confession” which is believed to have been made under duress.

Ali Saremi (or Sarami), aged 62, has a son in the PMOI who lives in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, whom he has visited. Ali Saremi has spent 23 years in prison for his political activities both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran (see http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/007/2010/en).

Since the disputed presidential election in June 2009, over 5,000 people have been arrested, including over 1,000 during and following mass demonstrations on the religious festival of Ashoura on 27 December. Many of those arrested since June 2009 have been tried in grossly unfair trials, resulting in long prison term sentences and some sentences of flogging. At least 15 people have been sentenced to death for “enmity against God” in connection with the post-election protests. Two - Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour - were hanged in public in January 2010 after being convicted in unfair trials of “enmity against God” and being members of Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran (API), a banned group which advocates the restoration of an Iranian monarchy. Four others are believed to have had their death sentences commuted. According to the Tehran prosecutor, the trials of another two people charged with moharebeh after the Ashoura demonstrations

have not yet been concluded.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

- Urging the Iranian authorities not to execute Ja’far Kazemi, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, Ali Saremi (or Sarami), Abdloreza Ghanbari, Ahmad Daneshpour Moghaddam and Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam;

- Urging the authorities to commute the death sentences of the six men, as well as any others imposed in connection with the post-election protests;

- Stating that Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice, in conformity with international standards for fair trial, those suspected of criminal offenses, but opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

APPEALS 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: info_leader@leader.ir

via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of Tehran Judiciary

Mr Ali Reza Avaei

Karimkhan Zand Avenue

Sana’i Avenue, Corner of Alley 17, No 152

Tehran, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Email: avaei@Dadgostary-tehran.ir

Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei

COPIES TO:

Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights

Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Fax: 011 98 21 3390 4986

Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (In subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Iran does not presently have an embassy in the United States. Instead, please send copies to:

Iranian Interests Section

2209 Wisconsin Ave NW

Washington DC 20007

Fax: 1 202 965 1073

Email: requests@daftar.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 02 July 2010.

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