The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of three detained protestors, Amirhossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi, arrested at the nationwide demonstrations last November.
According to Iran Human Rights (IHR), the death sentences of Amirhossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi, who have been held at the Greater Tehran Prison (Fashafuyeh), were upheld by the Supreme Court today.
In a tweet, Saeed and Mohammad’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili wrote: “Unfortunately, the death sentences of my clients have been upheld by the Supreme Court at the appeal stage.” Nili, who has not only been denied access to the case but also the opportunity to represent his clients has said he will be seeking a retrial.
Numerous informed sources have told IHR that the three detainees had been “tortured” during their detention in order to obtain forced confessions.
“They are holding around 60 protestors in Fashafuyeh Prison’s 5th Brigade, Andarzgah 2, Hall 2, with most of them serving anywhere from three months and six months to those on death row. Most of their sentences range from six to 10 years. Three other prisoners are being held on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) but have not yet been sentenced.” An informed source told IHR.
News that the three protestors, Amirhossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi had been sentenced to death in late June was met with denials by judicial officials.
Saeed and Mohammad had previously fled to Turkey after hearing news of Amirhossein’s arrest, where they requested asylum and were even interviewed. However, following President Rouhani’s trip to Turkey, security forces deported the two back to Iran by land.
On July 3, IHR warned of the dangers facing detained protestors with long-term or irrevocable sentences. The risk is particularly higher for those arrested at protests in provinces and remote areas further away from the capital, where people have little or no access to human rights organisations and face possible secret executions.
In a speech before Friday prayer sermons in Isfahan on Friday, June 26th, Mohammadreza Habibi, Isfahan’s Chief Justice announced convicting eight protestors arrested over the last three years of “corruption on earth”.
In the aftermath of the 2009 presidential election, the Iranian government also executed several prisoners to create fear and intimidation. Some of the detainees had been arrested a few months before the so-called Green Movement protests.
Source » iranhr