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Blogger Refuses to Defend Himself in Court in Protest of Unjust Proceedings

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Blogger Refuses to Defend Himself in Court in Protest of Unjust Proceedings

22nd May 2011

At his court session held at the Revolutionary Court on Saturday, 14 May, blogger Payman Roshan Zamir did not present a defense for himself in protest to the unjust proceedings of the judicial review. “According to requirements expressed in the law for a political suspect’s trial court, there should have been an open court, a jury, and a Representative from the Prosecutor; none of these were present. What is happening inside the Judiciary is that all laws are interpreted against the legislator’s intentions and against the suspect. I was entitled to an open court, whereas even my father was not allowed to attend, and when the lawyer brought him into the court after a lot of hardship, the Judge did not let him be present,” Roshan Zamir told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about his court proceedings.

“Other than writing a few articles, typing them, and giving one or two interviews, I have not done anything else and all of this is visible in my blogs. I wrote articles such as “Legal Ways For Changing The Leader” for Radio Zamaneh, or “We are Sohrab and Neda, not the Mujahedin-e Khalgh Organization,” but when my lawyer asked the Judge during my court proceedings to present the evidence, 90% of the evidence used by the Judge were articles I had not written at all, and had not even heard about during my interrogations. The most interesting point was when, suddenly, at the end of my court session, my interrogator entered the courtroom and showed a cartoon, saying that it was printed off of Payman’s laptop computer–a 100% false statement. He has had my laptop for the past five months. How come this cartoon was never discussed or shown to me during my interrogations, in prison, or at the court before?” said Roshan Zamir.

“When the Constitution states that the court has to be open, it is for this purpose, so that false things are not entered into the suspect’s case without shame or reservation, and so that what comes up during the case’s course is based on minimum logic. But when the court is closed, because they feel relaxed that no one can hear the suspect’s defense, they make any false accusation against him. If they are angry with one of my articles or analysis, when they know that my article does not contain any insults of illegal material, it is very unethical of them to accuse me of ridiculous things about which I know nothing and which I have never published on any websites, so that they can convict me,” continued Roshan Zamir.

“My court session was not only closed and without a jury, it even lacked a representative from the Prosecutor’s Office. [By Prosecutor’s Representative], I mean the person who should read the indictment against me, and the judge played the role of the Prosecutor, too. According to the law, if there is no representative from the Prosecutor’s Office, the court lacks validity. There was no jury and not even a representative from the Prosecutor.”

“Because of my objections to the court, I did not present any defense. I only said that I do not accept the charges. My lawyer defended me a little. I had two charges. One of them was ‘insulting the Supreme Leader,’ and I said that I have not insulted the Leader in any of my articles, and the other was ‘propagating against the regime,’ and I didn’t accept that one, either,” added Roshan Zamir.

“Our political suspects have attended so many closed court sessions, they are now used to it. But this is a very abnormal thing. The suspect should worry about his reputation. When someone files a complaint against another, it means that [they believe] he is guilty and the plaintiff has evidence against him, so he should not worry. But why do they close the court doors? This action is the best evidence for finding the court at fault. Anything could happen behind closed doors.”

Payman Roshan Zamir, who blogs on “Oos Peyman,” and is Editor-in-Chief of “Talar-e Haft-e Tir,” is currently out of prison on bail. He was arrested at his home on 20 January and was released on 29 February after being detained inside the Intelligence Office and Karoon Prison. His charges are “propagating against the regime,” and “insulting the leader”–neither of which the political activist accepts. Roshan Zamir currently awaits the results of his lower court ruling.

 

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Report: Iran VP sentenced for ‘violations’

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Report: Iran VP sentenced for ‘violations’

May 22, 2011

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Administrative Justice Court has ordered that an Iranian vice president be barred from government service for four years.

The conservative news website alef.ir says Vice President for Executive Affairs Hamid Baqaei has been convicted of committing “violations” and banned from serving in the government for four years. The report was posted on the website Saturday.

The website doesn’t say when the verdict was issued and doesn’t elaborate on the violations but says the ruling is related to “numerous violations” allegedly committed by Baqaei when he headed Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism organization.

Hard-liners have dramatically increased pressure on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his loyalists amid a bitter power struggle over who will shape Iran’s next government.

 

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5-year jail term approved for newspaper employee Yaser Masoum

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5-year jail term approved for newspaper employee Yaser Masoum

05/22/2011

GVF — An appeals court has approved a five-year jail term for Yaser Masoumi, a technical expert for a number of reformist publications, according to opposition websites.

Pro-Green Movement website Jaras has reported that a five-year prison sentence has been approved for Masoumi by an appeals court. The initial ruling was based on charges of “propagation” as well as “assembly and collusion” against the Islamic Republic.

Yaser Masoumi has worked for a number of reformist newspapers such as Shargh, Sarmayeh and Bahar.

He was arrested a few months after Iran’s rigged presidential election in June 2009, and was released on bail after enduring seventy days of imprisonment in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

According to Jaras, the heavy prison sentence, issued initially by Judge Salavati and later approved by Judge Moghisseh, was subject to legal scrutiny and based on “incomplete and false” information.

In April 2011, the two judges were named in the European Union’s list of 32 Iranian officials sanctioned for their role in human rights abuses in the country. The 27-nation bloc imposed visa bans and asset freezes on 32 individuals, ranging from judiciary judges to military, intelligence and police officials.

 

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At Least Fifteen Baha’i Citizens Summoned and Detained

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At Least Fifteen Baha’i Citizens Summoned and Detained

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2011

HRANA News Agency – This morning, with search and arrest warrants, Iran’s Intelligence Agency raided the houses of at least fifteen Baha’i citizens, detained some of them, and seized their personal properties.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the majority of those detained are students attending a provisional university established for Baha’i citizens who are denied the opportunity to study at Iran’s higher education institutes.

The names of nine detainees are as follows:

  1. Kamran Mortezai
  2. Vahid Mokhtari
  3. Mahmoud Badavam
  4. Aminollah Mostaqim
  5. Favod Moqadam
  6. Shahin Negari
  7. Afrooz Farmanbardari
  8. Sohail Fanbari
  9. Ramin Zibae

 

Additionally, Mehran Behmradi and Aghae Talei have been summoned to report to the Intelligence Agency in Shiraz by Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

 

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Tense Security Environment in Azerbaijan

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Tense Security Environment in Azerbaijan

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2011

HRANA News Agency – On the eve of the fifth anniversary of protests in Azerbaijan Province, a large number of cities in this region are witnessing the presence of security forces in the streets and main squares.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), tense security environment clearly hangs over the cities of Tabriz, Ahar, Marand and Maragheh.  Eyewitnesses have reported the presence of special units and military and security forces throughout the region including town squares, streets and universities.

Prior to May 22, 2011 which coincides with the fifth anniversary of protests in Azerbaijan Province, law enforcement and security agents have systematically begun to arrest political and civil activists in Azerbaijan.

Last year, eleven activists were arrested during the same time, and each one of them was sentenced to five years in prison.  Two well-known political activists, Alireza Farshi and Sima Didar, were amongst the detainees who are currently serving their prison terms.

Additionally, amongst tens of activists who have been arrested and summoned to court are Ibrahim Nuri, Siamak Koshi, Saeid Naimi, Ayoub Shiri, Sima and Mehdi Derakhshan, Akbar Azad, Sima Didar, Alireza Farshi, Hadi Hamidi Shafiq.

As the fifth anniversary of protests in Azerbaijan approaches, security forces have attempted to confiscate satellite dishes in some of the cities.  Since this morning, access to Internet has also been interrupted.   Eye witnesses have reported to HRANA that isolated clashes in streets surrounding the University of Tabriz have occurred, and a few citizens have been arrested in the city of Tabriz.

Furthermore, according to an eyewitness, heavy presence of law enforcement agents are such that there are four policemen stationed in every 100 meters.  As this report was being prepared, people continue to gather in the streets.

Beginning on May 22, 2006, for a period of one week, various cities in Azerbaijan witnessed widespread protests and clashes in response to a newspaper article that had published an insult to Azeri citizens.  Tens of people were arrested or killed during these demonstrations.

 

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Court Verdicts Issued for Twelve Azeri Activists

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Court Verdicts Issued for Twelve Azeri Activists

May 21, 2011

Younes Soleimani, Mahmoud Fazli, Naeim Ahmadi, Aidin Khajei, Shahram Radmehr, Yashar Karimi, and Hamideh Farajzadeh have each been sentenced to 6 months in prison. Alireza Abdollahi, Behboud Gholizadeh and Akbar Azad have also been sentenced to 6 months of suspended imprisonment for 5 years.

According to the Human Rights House of Iran, Hassan Rahimi has been acquitted after 4 months of solitary confinement.

The aforementioned individuals were tried for membership in a party by the name of “Gamouh” and acting against national security. They spent 8 months in prison, 5 months of which was in solitary confinement.  Yourosh Mehrali Biglou, Latif Hosseini and Zahra Farajzadeh, several other Azeri political activists, will be tried in the upcoming days.

 

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MPs press Iran to release Bahá’í leaders after sham trial

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MPs press Iran to release Bahá’í leaders after sham trial

Saturday 21 May 2011

It has been three years since seven Bahá’í leaders in Iran were incarcerated because of their religious beliefs. They suffered a sham trial and are now enduring appalling conditions in prison. Two are women and their lives are in danger.

The Bahá’ís are Iran’s largest religious minority, with over 300,000 believers, and for 30 years they have suffered a state-sponsored campaign of persecution. Hundreds have been executed, thousands tortured and imprisoned, and many others denied homes, livelihoods or education.

The United Nations human rights council recently established a special rapporteur to study the human rights situation of Iran – an achievement that owes much to the British government. Iran uses the cover of other events to press its campaign against Bahá’ís and others.

The international community must remember the Bahá’ís in Iran. The foreign secretary, William Hague, has condemned the 20-year sentences of these seven innocent people. The prime minister, David Cameron, has said that he is “deeply concerned about the ongoing plight of the seven Bahá’í leaders and the continued attacks on the Bahá’í Faith in Iran”.

We call on Iran to respect the rights of all its citizens, and to release the seven Bahá’ís. In a time of great change across the Middle East and north Africa, the plight of the Bahá’ís cannot be forgotten.

Richard Harrington MP

Kelvin Hopkins MP

John Leech MP

Neil Parish MP

Mark Williams MP

Baroness Cox

Lord Judd

 

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Iran arrests mother of executed brothers in Isfahan after their funeral

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Iran arrests mother of executed brothers in Isfahan after their funeral

May 21, 2011

The mother of Mohammad and Abdollah Fathi (who were hanged a few days ago by the Iranian regime) and the person filming the funeral procession and a number of other mourners were arrested.
According to reports from Shahin Shahr, a large crowd participated in the funeral of two executed brothers Abdollah and Mohammad Fathi who were hanged yesterday in the Isfahan Central Prison…
Mohammad and Abdollah’s mother was summoned (by security forces) after the ceremony. She was reportedly summoned to answer a few questions. There is still no news on those who were arrested. (International Campaign against Execution – May 18, 2011)

 

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Court Filings Assert Iran Had Link to 9/11 Attacks

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Court Filings Assert Iran Had Link to 9/11 Attacks

May 20, 2011

Two defectors from Iran’s intelligence service have testified that Iranian officials had “foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks,” according to a court filing Thursday in a federal lawsuit in Manhattan that seeks damages for Iran’s “direct support for, and sponsorship of, the most deadly act of terrorism in American history.”

One of the defectors also claimed that Iran was involved in planning the attacks, the filing said. The defectors’ identities and testimony were not revealed in the filing but were being submitted to a judge under seal, said lawyers who brought the original suit against Iran on behalf of families of dozens of 9/11 victims.

The suit’s allegation that Iran had foreknowledge of the attacks is hard to assess fully, given that the defectors’ testimony is being filed under seal.

The suit contends that Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization with close ties to Tehran, helped Al Qaeda in planning the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and in facilitating the hijackers’ training and travel. After the attacks, the suit contends, Iran and Hezbollah helped Qaeda operatives escape, providing some with a safe haven in Iran.

The question of an Iranian connection to 9/11 was raised by the national 9/11 commission and has long been debated. Al Qaeda, which adheres to a radical Sunni theology, routinely denounces the Shiite sect that holds power in Iran, and the terrorist network’s branch in Iraq has often made Shiites targets of bombings. But intelligence officials have long believed there has been limited, wary cooperation between Al Qaeda and Iran against the United States as a common enemy.

The lawsuit also names as defendants Iranian officials and ministries, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, among others. The families’ lawyers have asked for a default judgment against the defendants, which have not mounted a defense. Even if there were such a judgment, legal experts say it would not be easy to collect monetary damages.

In their court papers, the lawyers assert that Imad Mugniyah, as the military chief of Hezbollah, was a terrorist agent for Iran, and that he traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2000 to help with preparations for the 9/11 attacks.

Mr. Mugniyah, who was killed in 2008, had been accused by American officials of planning a series of major terrorist attacks and kidnappings, including the 1983 bombings of the United States Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.

The 9/11 commission report said there was “strong evidence that Iran facilitated the transit of Al Qaeda members into and out of Afghanistan before 9/11, and that some of these were future 9/11 hijackers.” The report also said there was circumstantial evidence that senior Hezbollah operatives were closely tracking the travel of some of the hijackers into Iran in November 2000.

But the commission said that it had “found no evidence that Iran or Hezbollah was aware of the planning for what later became the 9/11 attack,” and that the “topic requires further investigation by the U.S. government.”

Thomas E. Mellon Jr., a lawyer for the families, said the suit, first brought in Washington in 2002 and later moved to Manhattan, sought to do that investigation.

Ellen Saracini, whose husband, the United Airlines pilot Victor J. Saracini, was killed when his plane was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center, said she became involved with the suit because she wanted answers. “We now know,” she said, “who assisted Al Qaeda — Iran did — and we want our American justice system to find Iran accountable.”

The lawyers’ filing included reports of 10 specialists on Iran and terrorism, including former 9/11 commission staff members and ex-C.I.A. officers. “These experts make it clear that 9/11 depended upon Iranian assistance to Al Qaeda in acquiring clean passports and visas to enter the United States,” Mr. Mellon said.

But the expert reports do not in most cases seem to go as far as the defectors in contending Iran had foreknowledge of the attacks.

The filing says the defectors worked in Iran’s Ministry of Information and Security “in positions that gave them access to sensitive information regarding Iran’s state sponsorship of terrorism.” It says they have reason to fear for the safety of themselves and their families “should their identities and the content of their testimony be revealed publicly.”

Benjamin Weiser reported from New York, and Scott Shane from Washington.

 

U.S. sanctions target Syrian president, Iranian commanders

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U.S. sanctions target Syrian president, Iranian commanders

FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2011

CNN – President Barack Obama Wednesday imposed tough sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six other senior Syrian officials in an effort to stop the regime’s fierce crackdown on protests, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

The sanctions also target two top Iranian officials whose unit was a “conduit for Iranian material support” to Syrian intelligence, according to a copy of the executive order issued by the White House.

Obama signed the order Wednesday, a move a senior administration official described as a “decisive step to increase pressure” on the Syrian government to end violence, intimidation and pressure “and begin transitioning to a democratic” process.

Condemning Syria’s use of violence and intimidation against its people, the official said al-Assad “must put an end to the attacks on protesters, mass arrests and harassment” of citizens expressing rights and “must begin to introduce change.”

The Syrian government has launched a clampdown on peaceful demonstrators since mid-March. The United Nations last week said as many as 850 people have died in the protests, and there have been thousands of arrests.

Along with al-Assad, the other senior Syrian officials are Vice President Farouk al-Shara, Prime Minister Adel Safar, Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, Defense Minister Ali Habib Mahmoud, head of Syrian Military Intelligence Abdul Fatah Qudsiya and Political Security Directorate chief Mohammed Dib Zaitoun.

“As a result of this action, any property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which the individuals listed in the Annex have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them,” the Treasury Department said in a statement detailing the steps.

The senior administration official said it’s too early to estimate how much will be frozen.

“As I am sure you know, when we take actions obligatory for institutions to freeze, many institutions around the world might” do the same thing, the official said. “Amplifications around that may be significant.”

Treasury also announced the designation of 10 individuals and entities under an executive order signed by Obama on April 29.

It targets Syrian officials and others “responsible for human rights abuses, including repression against the Syrian people, as well as a set of companies tied to Syrian corruption.”

One is Hafiz Makhluf, a cousin of al-Assad and a senior official in the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate, the overarching civilian intelligence service in Syria.

“Makhluf was given a leading role in responding to protests in Syria, and was heavily involved in the Syrian regime’s actions” in the city of Daraa, the official said, where many protesters have been killed.

Deaths mount in Syrian town

Also designated were two Iranians: Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, which is called “the conduit for Iranian material support” to the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate, and the other is Mohsen Chizari, a senior IRGC-QF officer who serves as its commander of operations and training.

“It is a completely hypocritical act” of the Iranian government and the Quds force to “lend assistance in oppression” against those expressing human rights, the senior official said. “It is something we are concerned about,” the official added.

Other agencies designated are the Syrian Military Intelligence, the Syrian National Security Bureau, which is an element of the ruling Baath party; and Syrian Air Force Intelligence.

All are said to be involved in the actions against demonstrators.

Air Force Intelligence personnel allegedly “fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds of demonstrators” in late April after noon prayers, the Treasury Department said. At least 43 people were killed.

 

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