May/Jun 2020

International Liberty Association Newsletter Rowlandson House • 289-297 Ballards Lane • London N12 8NP W: www.iliberty.org.uk • E: [email protected] • T: 020 8452 3481

EDITORIAL IS ’S REGIME USING With this newsletter we send our warmest wishes to each COVID PANDEMIC TO one of you for your continuing health and well-being during this unprecedented time. As COMMIT MORE ATROCITIES? the figures for death and new infections from the virus here drop and we prepare to take cautious steps into the world in line with more relaxed guidelines, we must all remain vigilant, while embracing the lighter energy that comes with greater freedom of movement and choice. While we have very much missed hosting you physically at our social events, we are delighted that technology has enabled us to come together to On 12 May, in a report titled “Fears Silawi, Ali Khasraji and Naser share information, ideas, music, of secret execution mount for Khafajian have been forcibly song, poetry in our weekly virtual disappeared prisoners from minority disappeared since 31 March 2020 and “Hour with ILA”. It has been a great groups”, Amnesty International Hedayat Abdollahpour since 9 May pleasure to discover new talent warned the world about the secret 2020 after a transfer from their usual among our supporters and be torture and execution of detainees. places of detention to undisclosed According to the report, Hossein locations. … continued on p.2 able to invite speakers and other friends who are usually too busy or live too far away. NO AUTHORITY TAKES RESPONSIBILITY Sadly, as reported in our previous bulletin, the situation in FOR MASS KILLINGS IN NOVEMBER Iran is very different as the regime In a letter to Iran’s parliament has shown itself unwilling and on Monday 18 May, the Interior unprepared to take the necessary Ministry claimed that it has not been steps to curb the virus, instead found responsible for the causes fabricating figures to make it and consequences of the November appear it is under control, forcing protests sparked by the tripling of the people already below the poverty price of petrol. line back to work to avoid paying “Extensive investigations of the matter by relevant supervisory bodies live ammunition to suppress the compensation and silencing and authorities have been concluded protesters. any dissent, especially from the and the Ministry of Interior has not A few weeks after the protests, Ali medical profession. been found responsible for any faults Mottahari, a member of the Majlis Centre stage in this bulletin, in any of the reports,” Seyed Salman (parliament) tried to impeach the however, is what is happening Samani, Spokesman of the Interior Interior Minister as the main culprit under cover of the virus to add Ministry, was quoted by the website of in the events. The motion to impeach to the pressures on the existing the Ministry as saying. the minister was not accepted by prison population and ethnic, A triple price rise for gasoline on the Parliament’s Presidium and religious and other minorities. 15 November 2019 sparked massive later Motahari alleged that Supreme There has been a sharp rise in protests across Iran that lasted for Leader Ali Khamenei who opposed executions and disappearances five days during which anti-riot the impeachment of the minister had of prisoners moved from their police and other security forces influenced the decision to drop it. At under the command of the Interior least 1500 protesters were killed by previous … continued on p.2 Ministry used lethal force including security forces in those few days.

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Editorial continued from p.1 prison location without any warning, or information given to their families. At the same time a number of Kurds and Arabs, Baha’i and Christians have been newly incarcerated in increased repression of these communities, while those prisoners who were furloughed for a time due to various pressures around Is Iran’s Regime using COVID to commit Earlier in April the regime officials the virus, are being returned more atrocities? continued from p.1 arrested two young elite students in an to prison, further increasing “Their enforced disappearance has apparent kidnapping and then after taken place amid an apparent rise in 3 weeks announced their arrest and the overcrowding and risk of the number of executions since April accused them of trying to overthrow infection. 2020, including in prisons populated the regime, a charge that could lead In addition, a new and by ethnic minorities, which has to their execution. The family of the concerning trend is the arrest further heightened concerns about detained students have been denied and imprisonment of some of the their safety and well- being”, the AI access to their loved ones and fear for brightest and best of the student report emphasised. their lives. Both students have been population, not for any crime AI has insisted that the Iranian highly respected in their university committed, but because they authorities must immediately and won several prizes for their might play a leadership role in reveal the truth about the fate and academic excellence. any future protests. whereabouts of Hossein Silawi, Ali Another issue that raises serious Khasraji, and Naser Khafajian, all concern about the ill intentions of All this, together with the three death row prisoners from the mullahs ruling the country is that regime’s refusal to investigate the Iran’s Arab minority, and Hedayat many prisoners who were temporarily November 2019 protests, or lay Abdollahpour, a death row prisoner released due to COVID-19 risks inside blame on the security forces for from Iran’s Kurdish minority. prisons have been returned to prison, the death of around 1,500 of the “All four men were sentenced to thereby increasing the risk of bringing protesters, while pressuring their death following grossly unfair trials infections from outside to prisons. families to keep quiet about the and amid serious torture allegations, Thousands of inmates in at least deaths and not mount their own which have never been investigated. eight prisons around Iran have staged investigations, speaks of a regime They were denied access to their protests in recent months over their that is far more concerned with lawyers and families, as well as to any fears about potentially contracting the keeping control of the populace details of the evidence against them, virus while incarcerated. during the investigation period”, AI Iran’s judiciary announced in in order to maintain its grip on disclosed in its statement. March that it had given amnesty power, than having any care or In the case of Hedayat or furloughs to many prisoners to consideration for the people’s Abdollahpour, he was arrested along prevent COVID-19 contagions in health and well-being. with at least six others in a village prisons. In spite of all these repressive near Oshnavieh city, West Azerbaijan But most political and non-political measures, a number of protests province, on 15 June 2016. The seven prisoners were not allowed amnesties have taken place as the people detainees were accused of providing or furloughs and now they face even of Iran came to the streets in May food and shelter to members of the greater risk of catching the virus to highlight issues such as poor Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from those prisoners returning from pay and working conditions. during clashes with the Revolutionary furloughs. Guards. It is a matter for concern that According to reliable reports, as of We pay tribute to their courage there has been a sharp rise in prison 21 May 2020, Coronavirus has taken in showing the world that the executions in Kurdish areas in recent the lives of more than 43,300 in 319 human rights issues have not months. cities across Iran. gone away, nor has the people’s determination for change and desire for greater freedom and choice. Our hearts go out to the people of Iran and to all of us that we come through this period safely and can all go on to enjoy a long, happy and healthy future.

2 May/Jun 2020 International Liberty Association Newsletter DOCTORS AND NURSES SUFFER AS THE REGIME IGNORES VIRUS CONCERNS In an article published on World report by the research arm of Iran’s Nurses’ Day, 12 May 2020, the parliament said the number of cases Associated Press addressed the dire could be eight to ten times higher, situation of medical staff in Iran facing making it among the hardest hit the rapid spread of coronavirus in the countries in the world”, AP said in the country. report. In most countries they are regarded “The Iranian government is as heroes “But for doctors and nurses currently reporting a decline in the still dealing with Iran’s growing number of COVID-19 infections and number of coronavirus infections, deaths in many areas, even though such praise rings hollow”, AP wrote in local authorities are expanding the article. cemeteries in places like where According to the report, “some the municipal council said it had to medical professionals say government add 10,000 new graves to its largest and religious leaders bear the brunt cemetery, Behesht e-Zahra. In another part of the report, AP of the blame for allowing the virus to “Iran’s leaders”, several medical wrote: “A radiologist based in Tehran spread — and for hiding how much it professionals said, “delayed telling the told the Associated Press that he had had spread. public about the virus for weeks, even access to medical files of patients “Those medical workers say they as hospitals were filling up with people at different Tehran hospitals. The were defenceless to handle the suffering from symptoms linked to the reports include CT scans and blood contagion. And, as a result, doctors virus.” tests that pointed to the coronavirus. and nurses in Iran have been hard hit But tests were not done. by the virus. During the first 90 days “These are 40% of the cases,’ he of the virus outbreak alone, about said, ‘It’s just difficult to prove.’ one medical staffer died each day and “The number of real patients with dozens became infected.” COVID-19 in Iran, from the beginning “We are heading fast toward a … until today is much more than what disaster,” AP cited a young Isfahan has been reported,” he said, echoing doctor who has been working similar sentiments by most medical tirelessly, checking dozens of “They wanted to send people to workers interviewed by the AP. suspected coronavirus patients before the streets,’ said a Mazandaran-based “He estimated that the numbers are referring them to hospitals. “It is no nurse and activist. three to four times higher than the secret that Iran has been hit hard by “One doctor ... said he and his figures released by the government. the coronavirus. Official government colleagues were even discouraged “The authorities believe they are figures show that around 100,000 from using protective equipment. doing great and they try to keep things people were infected by the virus He said government officials claimed out of the spotlight,’ a medical scholar and around 6,500 have died. But a wearing masks would cause panic.” said.”

IRAN ARRESTS AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS The Spokesman of Iran’s Judiciary on Tuesday 5 May admitted the arrest of two elite students from Sharif University of Technology after detaining them for 26 days. Gholam-Hossein Esmaili who was speaking to reporters said the two students had linked up with an opposition organisation (MEK). The Judiciary spokesman was referring to the 20-year-old award-winning computer science student of Tehran’s Sharif Industrial University, Ali Younesi, and another award- winning physics student, Amir-Hossein Moradi, who were both arrested (kidnapped) on 10 April by state agents. Amir Hossein Moradi disappeared and Ali Younesi was brought home in the evening of the same day, with injuries and torture marks. The family of Ali Younesi says he was In a statement to the press on 7 May, British assaulted and injured by twelve security agents. parliamentarians, members of the British Committee In a joint letter to the United Nations High for Iran Freedom BCFIF), condemned “Iran’s regime Commissioner for Human Rights, nine Nobel laureates for intensifying its domestic repression by stepping up warned that the arrest of two elite Iranian students paves the crackdown on dissenting voices and unleashing a new wave way for widespread and brutal repression of dissidents and of executions instead of helping the Iranian people during students in the months following the coronavirus outbreak. the devastating coronavirus pandemic in the country.”

May/Jun 2020 3 International Liberty Association Newsletter IRANIANS HOLD PROTESTS TO DEMAND UNPAID WAGES AMIDST PANDEMIC Iranians held at least six protests to protest unpaid wages. on Tuesday 12 May to express their According to the ILNA state-run economic woes. News Agency, around 200 retirees A large number of coal workers and employees of Iran’s state-run TV in the south-eastern city of held a protest rally outside the Bilal gathered for the seventh day in a row Mosque in Tehran. to express their economic grievances. The protesters were demanding The protesters, who had gathered a promised 50% increase in their outside their company’s building, said salaries. They said they were not the company was selling its shares in getting equal pay compared to other the private sector, jeopardizing their government organizations. job security. A number of human resources Iran’s state-run TV said that a Kerman’s coal mines have been managers attended the rally in an number of drivers and bus owners transferred to the country’s Steel attempt to convince the protesters in the city of Qom gathered outside Pension Fund to settle government that the government had not given the city’s bus organisation to demand debts, and now the CEO of the any funds for the wage rise, but the their unpaid wages, as well as Fund has announced the sale of protesters did not accept their excuse. unemployment insurance. the company’s shares in the stock In another event, a group of Also laid off toll collectors in exchange. The workers are worried Municipality Bus Organisation Qazvin province gathered outside about becoming contract workers drivers in the south-western city of the Ministry of Roads and Urban again. Yasuj protested outside the Yasuj City Development in Tehran to protest Also, a number of medical workers Council to demand months of their their condition and the hollow in the port of Mahshahr, south-western unpaid wages. The drivers said that promises made by the authorities. Iran, held a protest rally outside the officials only worried about their cars All these protests took place while city’s petrochemical industry hospital and not the drivers going hungry. the pandemic is taking its toll.

IRAN REGIME PRESSURING PROTESTERS’ FAMILIES NOT TO PURSUE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONES 5 days, in 39 cities, across 15 provinces of Iran, the state armed forces used potentially lethal means (including live ammunition and metal plates) and killed hundreds of people”. The group further noted that, according to the official policy, approved by supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the regime divided the victims into three categories – bystanders, protestors, and armed rioters – in order to treat the families differently. “Bystanders” were to be recognized as martyrs, with their families given blood money, monthly wages and other benefits from the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. Families of “Protesters” would only receive blood money, The Iranian authorities are pressuring those who lost and families of “armed rioters” would be given nothing. relatives during the regime’s crackdown on the November The regime also has distorted the facts through two false 2019 uprising over fuel price rises to accept money and narratives: “martyrdom”, rather than have a full investigation into ‘protestors killed some of the victims’ and ‘state forces the deaths, according to a London-based human rights only used deadly force if they felt that protestors were organization. threatening the lives of others’. In a May 16 report, entitled “Mockery of Justice: State’s In no cases, according to Justice for Iran, would the Policies and Laws Regarding the Victims of Iran’s 2019 regime be investigating the cases or arresting perpetrators; November Protests”, Justice for Iran reported that the considering all the killings as lawful. Iranian authorities have refused to carry out judicial A state-initiated campaign was launched shortly after the investigations into the deaths of the 1,500 protesters and massacre to ensure that there will be no truth or justice, civilians or prosecute those responsible, believing that blood with the regime intimidating and coercing families to money will buy off the Iranian people. prevent them from suing and get them to confirm the According to the report, Justice for Iran collected, regime’s narrative. In some cases, the victims’ bodies were geo-located, analyzed, and corroborated more than 1,200 not released until the family legally agreed not to speak out publicly available videos to conclude that “in less than or file a complaint.

4 May/Jun 2020 International Liberty Association Newsletter MURDER OF IRANIAN BISHOP’S SON FORTY YEARS AGO

On 6 May 1980, Bahram’s father, Bishop Hassan at the age of Dehqani-Tafti, had fled the country just 24, Bahram just six months earlier, having Dehqani-Tafti, narrowly escaped an assassination the only son of attempt for his refusal to hand the first ethnic over access to a church fund to the Iranian Anglican authorities in the newly formed bishop, was Islamist State. ambushed as Five bullets were shot at him and he drove home his wife, Margaret, in their bed, but from work and shot dead. all missed the target, save one that Bahram, whose mother Margaret passed through Margaret’s hand as she was the daughter of British mission- attempted to protect her husband. aries, was working as a teacher of Just six days later, the bishop economics and drama at Damavand left Iran for pre-arranged meetings College in Tehran, having studied in Cyprus and the UK, and never at Oxford University in the UK and returned to his home country. George Washington University in the Bishop Hassan was attending a US. church conference in Cyprus when he He was returning home after was called with the news of his son’s after the revolution that brought lunch when his car was forced off the murder. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to road and he was driven to a deserted Although he could not return for power who called the missionaries area near . A 14-year-old the funeral, which took place at St “agents of imperialism”. boy, who witnessed what happened Luke’s Anglican Church in Isfahan Bahram was not the first Christian next, told police he heard somebody on 11 May 1980, a prayer written by victim of the revolution. Just eight speaking with Bahram, then the sound the bishop was read out by his wife days after Ayatollah Khomeini came of a gunshot, and then saw two people Margaret, expressing forgiveness to power, an Anglican priest in Shiraz, getting out of Bahram’s car and towards their son’s assassins. Arastoo Sayyah, was brutally murdered fleeing in a second vehicle. Bahram’s murder came just a year in his church office.

MINORITIES FACE GREATER PERSECUTION AT THE TIME OF SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit Iran “At a time when the government should be encouraging particularly hard, the Iranian government has further and promoting mutual support and assistance among intensified persecution of Baha’i community and other citizens, it instead penalises and condemns those who try to minorities in the country. help others.” The Baha’i International Community reports that two Concerning the furloughed Baha’is who have been called Baha’is in Isfahan have been arrested arbitrarily; seven in back to prison, Ms Ala’i added: Shiraz have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from “These individuals are not criminals and they do not one to thirteen years; the one-year sentences of five Baha’is belong in prison. During this global pandemic, when in Karaj have been confirmed in appeals court; a Baha’i prisons are hotbeds of infection, returning these Baha’is to in Ghaemshahr, who was previously sentenced to 11 years prison is akin to handing down a death sentence.” imprisonment, was called to begin his sentence; and two Baha’is in Iran have faced systematic persecution since Baha’is, previously released owing to concerns of COVID- the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The government bars them 19 spreading through the prison population, have been from economic advancement through a variety of means, as ordered back to prison. well as denying them the right to higher education. The international community has been calling for Iran to release its prisoners of conscience, owing to the high risk of death associated with COVID-19 in prisons. The seven Baha’is from Shiraz were arrested under the pretext that their educational and environmental activities constituted “propaganda against the regime” and “forming groups against the regime.” The Baha’i International Community has called these claims “preposterous.” “The Baha’i International Community is appalled by the sentences handed down to these innocent individuals who were guilty of nothing other than selflessly serving their communities,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.

May/Jun 2020 5 International Liberty Association Newsletter ILA ZOOM MEETINGS

Sir Alan must not, must not listen to views The earth sighed, worn out with Meale which are coming from Iran and lift Our rapacious greed for growth. MP and a sanctions, international sanctions She took a breather, skies got bluer, Member against Iraq [sic], because if you do Air got cleaner, fish jumped higher. of the that, we all know the history. History Then came drought, famines, lice. Assembly has shown that the mullahs, and the Slowly the lessons dawned: of the Revolutionary Guard in particular, We do not need so much Council will use the opportunity and the gains Whilst many need so much more. of Europe made from that to, rather than get Earth needs her snails to trace was the them to the people of Iran which More virtuous words of fairness, justice, speaker at is what it desperately needs at the And trail them through every land: one of ILA’s weekly online meetings. present time, they’ll actually use it the May we reverently green our planet Excerpts of his remarks follow: same old way they always have done, Its oceans, ice caps, forests, fields, It’s really a delight to come onto by increasing their warmongering With kindness, kindness, kindness. your programme, particularly as efforts and even supporting terrorism so many of your viewers will be on the international stage. So I say On 16th of May, ILA held its weekly self-isolating. I wanted to use the your work is fantastic. However, it zoom event with the participation of opportunity, actually, to pay tribute needs another step forward, because two keynote speakers, Steve McCabe, to the ILA for the excellent work if there’s any easing to be done at the Labour Party politician and member you actually do, particularly with present time in all of this, whether of parliament from Birmingham the Ashrafis and, of course, the it’s financial or otherwise on the Selly Oak, and Mark Williams, British old Liberty residents. Some of the international borders, it needs to be Welsh Liberal Democrat Politician campaigns you take up are not easy eased in a way that directs whatever and member of parliament from at all, work on stopping executions the benefits are to the people of Iran, 2005—2017. being outstanding, and the best way and not to the regime itself. One day to explain that is to remind people we’ll have a free Iran. We’ll have a free that it’s been recognised at the Iran which is not, perhaps, something highest level with the United Nations which is unattainable, the reality is Commission on Human Rights and, that what I’m asking for in supporting of course, Amnesty International you in your endeavours is, something itself. Well, they couldn’t stop there, that the rest of the free world your organisation; you also worked to experiences every single day. They highlight the whole presence of the have freedom of movement, freedom coronavirus in Iran, which was being of expression, in every way, shape and denied by the regime for a very long form. And all I ask is that once again, Steve McCabe time, they said it wasn’t there, then redouble your marvellous efforts, try they had it under control. Instead, and get more support for what needs they’ve got the second highest death to be the ultimate objective, which is a rates in the world, and if you look at free Iran. Thank you! the death rate which you’ve exposed Singing, playing music and reciting to the free world, it’s almost equal poems form other parts of these to Northern Europe, the death rate meetings. Following is a poem written and the contamination rate, and and recited by Prof Diana Medlicott, without you that wouldn’t have been called ‘Covid-19’: highlighted. Is this how our extinction begins? But really, another aspect of the A pestilence that tracks us down? Mark Williams work that you do is the successful No celestial impact, no diplodocus effort you’ve fought to change minds Lost and starving on the crater’s rim. The two speakers focused on the and actually get prisoners released Just a creep of morbid stealth Iranian regime’s cover-up and from jails in Iran, particularly when Into our blessed plots, our care homes. duplicitous policy regarding the true the pandemic has been going on, We locked down: shameful words- figures of fatalities of the Coronavirus you’ve saved many, many lives. Isolation, distance, shunning - pandemic, which has not only led to What I want to say to you today Became honourable practices. high number of mortalities within is that your work is outstanding. It’s Iran, but also spread the virus to very, very commendable indeed. the Middle East and other countries However, there’s a lot more to do around the globe. and probably nobody is better placed Speakers also expressed their than you yourselves. You’ve already concern about the plight of the influenced the UN. You have to go prisoners of conscience, who are in further and influence them again, danger of contracting the virus due and also their member [unclear], the to the overcrowding in prisons and really [unclear] member states. They lack of sanitary … continued on p.8

6 May/Jun 2020 International Liberty Association Newsletter NEWS IN BRIEF belonging to the couple in March ANGLICAN CHURCH FIRE AT THREE 2018. While on furlough from prison MEMBER GIVEN THIRD RELIGIOUS MINORITY SITES due to the coronavirus pandemic, PRISON SENTENCE AT IN A FEW DAYS Fatemeh Mosanna received the court order for the confiscation of the Fires have been reported at three sites RETRIAL family home. She has now returned to belonging to religious minorities, prison. including a Christian cemetery, in just The Headquarters for Execution a few days in Iran. of Imam Khomeini’s Decree is a state First, on organization under the direct control Friday 15 of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. May, the The organization is in charge of director of the management and disposal of anti-Semitism properties ordered to be confiscated watchdog by courts. According to some ADL, An Iranian Anglican Church member reports, the value of the properties Jonathan has been reconvicted of membership in the possession of the organization Greeblatt, of a “Zionist Evangelical Christian” amounts to some $95 billion. group “hostile to the regime” at his tweeted that retrial, and convicted of the additional the tomb charge of “propaganda against the of Biblical IRANIAN CHRISTIANS state”. figures SENT TO JAIL, UNABLE TO Queen Esther Ismaeil Maghrebinejad, 65, was AFFORD BAIL informed of the verdict on Saturday, and her cousin Mordecai in Hamedan, west of Tehran, had been “set afire Four Iranian converts to Christianity 16 May, following his retrial the have been sent to Lakan Prison in the previous Saturday at the 1st Branch of overnight”, meaning that it would have taken place on the anniversary northern city of Rasht, having been the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz. unable to afford the bail set for them, Judge Seyed Mahmood Sadati of the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. reported Article 18, a UK based non- reached the same verdict as in his profit organisation. initial February ruling by giving The next day, Iran International Ismaeil a two-year sentence for posted footage of the aftermath of “membership of a hostile group”, but a fire inside a Hindu temple in the added an additional year in prison for southern port city of Bandar Abbas. “propaganda against the state”. Then on Sunday, Manoto News broadcast of smoke billowing over the walls of a Christian cemetery in BAHA’I COMMUNITY Eslamshahr, just south of Tehran. WARNS OF INCREASED PERSECUTION REGIME CONFISCATES HOME In a statement released on May 18 OF IMPRISONED COUPLE Moslem Rahimi, Ramin the Baha’i International Community Iranian authorities have confiscated Hassanpour and his wife Kathrin (BIC) warned about the increased the residential home of two political Sajadpour, and one other who does persecution of Baha’is in Iran despite prisoners where their children lived not wish to be named were arrested the coronavirus health crisis. with their 89-year-old grandmother. in February for their membership of a house-church. On Thursday 14 May, they appeared at Branch 10 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, where they were charged. The precise nature of the charges against them are as yet unclear, though they are certain to relate Fatemeh Mosanna and Hassan to their membership of the house- Sadeqi were arrested in 2013 along church. House-churches are deemed “In recent days, two Baha’is in with their 10 and 19 year old children by the Iranian regime to be “hostile” Isfahan have been arbitrarily arrested, for holding a memorial ceremony for entities linked to foreign “Zionist” seven Baha’is in Shiraz have been Mr Sadeghi’s father who died in Camp groups. sentenced to long prison terms Liberty, Iraq in that year. They were Their bail was set at 500 million ranging from one to thirteen years,” given 15 years in prison each. tomans each – the equivalent of the statement said adding other The Headquarters for Execution around $30,000. Unable to come persecution instances of the banned of Imam Khomeini’s Decree had up with the amount, they were religious group. confiscated the business venue transferred to Lakan Prison.

May/Jun 2020 7 International Liberty Association Newsletter

SYMBOLS OF STRUGGLE AND PERSEVERANCE ILA Zoom Meetings continued from p.6 In a letter Zeinab Jalalian has resisted against sent out from all the threats and harassments over facilities and the regime’s refusal Prison, her long term imprisonment, not to release them. This has made Golrokh Iraee giving up to the pressures dictating them extremely vulnerable to wrote that two confessions to her. This untimely Covid-19. Kurdish political transfer after years of incarceration, as It is vital to save the lives of prisoners, well as the transfer of another Kurdish the prisoners of conscience by Zeinab Jalalian political prisoner, Sakineh Parvaneh, means of pressure campaigns. who was who has endured heavy pressure in Through these activities, the transferred from recent months in the Qarchak Prison Iranian regime has succumbed Golrokh Iraee Khoy Prison on in have been carried out to to releasing some of these 28 April, and Sakineh Parvaneh who exert more pressure on them. prisoners but this is not enough has been taken to a mental hospital Since being transferred to Qarchak and we must push for the release several times, are under undue Prison, Sakineh Parvaneh has been of all of the innocent prisoners. pressure in Qarchak Prison. taken to the Aminabad Mental The ILA Zoom events also In the letter sent to activists outside Hospital several times where she has include musical performances by prison Golrokh praised Zeinab for been further pressured and brutalized. Iranian and British musicians. her perseverance, a ‘symbol’, just like All this indicate violations of human herself has been to others. Partial rights. translation of her letter follows: We condemn these vindictive Zeinab measures by intelligence agencies and Jalalian is one believe that remaining silent against of the longest- them is a crime, imposing a heavy detained responsibility on the shoulders of their political claimants. prisoners in Zeinab Jalalian is not only a person Iran. After or just a prisoner. She is the meaning spending years of struggle… She is the teacher of the in various alphabets of freedom-loving. She is the detention meaning of perseverance… Zeinab Jalalian centres On the tenth anniversary of the and prisons, and after enduring execution of (Kurdish teacher and tremendous torture, she has been political prisoner) Farzad Kamangar, recently relocated from the Prison we commemorate him who preferred of Khoy, which is close to the place to be flogged and hanged rather than of residence of her family, to the giving in to personal interests. Qarchak Prison in Varamin where she is facing renewed pressure from 8 May 2020 intelligence agents. Qarchak Prison in Varamin

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8 May/Jun 2020