Iranian Journalists Receive Death Threats After Testifying

hrw.org ^ | Jan 6th, 05 | hrw

[F14 Pilot]

(New York, January 6, 2005) -- After testifying to a presidential commission about their torture during detention, a group of Iranian journalists have received death threats from judicial officials under Tehran chief prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, Human Rights Watch said today.

Human Rights Watch is extremely concerned about the safety of the journalists, whose testimony to a presidential commission, tasked with investigating mistreatment of detainees, provided detailed information on their torture and mistreatment while they were detained, without being charged, by secret squads operating under the authority of the judiciary.

“We want the Iranian government to know that the world is watching what happens to these young journalists. The Iranian government is responsible for their safety,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. “The Iranian authorities should be protecting citizens who testify before presidential commissions instead of sending them death threats.”

On December 25, Hanif Mazroi, Massoud Ghoreishi, Fereshteh Ghazi, Arash Naderpour and Mahbobeh Abasgholizadeh—all of whom are journalists detained by the government—testified about their detention before the presidential commission. Fereshteh Ghazi provided details of her treatment by interrogators, including severe beatings that resulted in a broken nose during one interrogation session. The detainees were kept under lengthy solitary confinement in a secret detention center and were repeatedly subjected to psychological and physical torture.

On January 1 two other former detainees, Omid Memarian and Ruzbeh Mir Ebrahimi, also appeared in front of the commission. In their testimonies, as made public by commission member Mohammad Ali Abtahi, they confirmed details of their torture.

Since their appearances before the commission, Saeed Mortazavi, chief prosecutor of Tehran, has threatened each of these former detainees with lengthy prison sentences and harm to their family members, as punishment for their testimony. Mortazavi continues to issue numerous subpoenas for the journalists without specifying charges. His operatives also harass the journalists by phone on a daily basis. On January 3, Mortazavi held a press conference denying any mistreatment of detainees and threatening to prosecute the former detainees for “allegations against security forces and prison officials that are politically motivated.”

The journalists’ testimonies exposed Mortazavi’s role in authorizing their torture to extract confessions and in compelling them to appear on television to deny their mistreatment while under detention.

“The brave testimony of these young journalists has reaffirmed evidence of Mortazavi’s leading role in the torture of detainees,” said Whitson. “It’s high time for the Iranian government to investigate Mortazavi’s abuses and bring him to justice.”

Saeed Mortazavi has spearheaded the judiciary’s attack on press freedoms since the current crackdown began in 2000. He is responsible for the closure of numerous newspapers, as well as the arrests and prosecution of journalists, which is detailed in the recent Human Right Watch report on Iran, “Like the Dead in their Coffins.”

[F14 Pilot]

Freedom for Iran!

[PeterFinn]

Since the rights of JOURNALISTS are being violated we can expect the MSM to encourage an invasion of Iran to make Iran safe for reporters.

[winner3000]

(The Iranian government is responsible for their safety,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch)

Or Human Rights Watch will do what exactly? Let's face it. Without US muscle, all these Human Rights groups mean nothing. That's why they PO me when they criticize us.

[weenie]

Good post...thx.

I wonder if the Iranian students that want freedom are willing to shed blood for it.

Unless things have changed, the price of freedom is denominated in blood...not demonstration.

[McGavin999]

May God protect them. This guy doesn't sound like he fools around and if he can't get to them, he'll get to their families. I don't know what good it will do to testify to the President of Iran, he's basically powerless.

[PhilDragoo]

Since their appearances before the commission, Saeed Mortazavi, chief prosecutor of Tehran, has threatened each of these former detainees with lengthy prison sentences and harm to their family members, as punishment for their testimony. Mortazavi continues to issue numerous subpoenas for the journalists without specifying charges. His operatives also harass the journalists by phone on a daily basis. On January 3, Mortazavi held a press conference denying any mistreatment of detainees and threatening to prosecute the former detainees for “allegations against security forces and prison officials that are politically motivated.”

The journalists’ testimonies exposed Mortazavi’s role in authorizing their torture to extract confessions and in compelling them to appear on television to deny their mistreatment while under detention.

“The brave testimony of these young journalists has reaffirmed evidence of Mortazavi’s leading role in the torture of detainees,” said Whitson. “It’s high time for the Iranian government to investigate Mortazavi’s abuses and bring him to justice.”

Saeed Mortazavi has spearheaded the judiciary’s attack on press freedoms since the current crackdown began in 2000. He is responsible for the closure of numerous newspapers, as well as the arrests and prosecution of journalists, which is detailed in the recent Human Right Watch report on Iran, “Like the Dead in their Coffins.”

Meanwhile Democrats on Senate Judiciary continue to torture Alberto Gonzales.

[F14 Pilot]

This guy is gravely dangerous and stupid!

[don-o]

Have you dropped a contribution, or are you a Freeploader?

[PhilDragoo]

"... Saeed Mortazavi, has also accused Abdi of receiving money from “Gallup” to publish a recently conducted survey that showed popularity rate of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenehei at only 1.2 per cent. The poll has further emphasized that more than 74.8 per cent of Iranians favor normalization of relation with the United States."

[7.62 x 51mm]

Holymoly, PD, LOL!!!!

The pic at the bottom of the post, tells it all.

[F14 Pilot]

Yeah, more than 70% of Iranians wants a friendly tie with the US.
That is correct!

[pointsal]

Call Kofi.....he's known for protecting freedom....

yeah ....you bet......

[PhilDragoo]

And just look at how popular the Ayatollah is--

Not.

This year he becomes extinct.

[weenie]

Without US muscle, all these Human Rights groups mean nothing.

Ain't that the frikken truth...good response!

[weenie]

...and just look at how popular the Ayatollah is...

I hope you are right...but first we will be treated to a wrestling match between Islam and...who are the challengers?

[MeekOneGOP]

Meanwhile Democrats on Senate Judiciary continue to torture Alberto Gonzales.

Ain't that the truth!? They're gonna lose this one.

What a GREAT pic there at the bottom. hahaha!

[PhilDragoo]

Sean Hannity got Lindsey Graham on his show after trashing him on-air for accusing the U.S. of torture.

Graham squawked like a wet hen that he was an Air Force jag--

He is so light in the loafers he has to wear a helmet when indoors.

Hitlery must have pictures.

We will remember the dem display as yet another circling torpedo they fired. . .only to hit them amidships November of next year.

The main thing is that we will have another good, tough attorney general to keep the skillet too hot for terrorists to congeal.

[nuconvert]

Mortazavi >> B&st&rd!

[F14 Pilot]

he is more than a mere ba$tarD