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Is Iran's Regime Using Covid Pandemic to Commit More 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 IRAN’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. International Liberty Association: Charity Registration Number 1160607 International Liberty Association Newsletter 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 Tehran 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.
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