June 4, 2014

IRAN: Iranian Regime Executes Another Political Prisoner

The Clarion Project
written by Staff
Sunday June 1, 2014

The Iranian government has executed Gholamreza Khossravi Savadjani, 49, a supporter of the People's Mojehedin of Iran (PMOI), one of the major resistance groups opposed to the current regime.

In an official release, Maryam Rajavi, President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), issued her condolences to the family of the deceased and his colleagues in the PMOI and NCRI. He was executed on the charge of moharebeh, enmity against God. He has been incarcerated and tortured for the past 12 because of his support for the PMOI.

Iranian officials reportedly decided to carry out the execution in April, after the brutal crackdown on political prisoners in the notorious Evin prison, in which inmates were severely beaten by riot police.

Rajavi said, "It was after the savage raid on the political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison that Ali Khamenei’s henchmen decided to carry out this criminal sentence. They considered Gholamreza as the main leader of protest and revolt by prisoners in Ward 350 last April.”

She went on to say, "These anti-human atrocities only bring closer its demise and further ablaze the flames of the resistance of the Iranian people." The official release closed by emphasizing that the "illegitimate rule must be held accountable before an international tribunal."

Since the election of Rouhani, there has been an increase in the number of executions in Iran as well as in political repression. In February, Hashem Shaabani, a beloved poet and human rights activist, was also hanged for moharabeh. Last week, the makers of a music video showing six young Iranians dancing to the song "Happy" were arrested and moved to a prison for political inmates. The dancers were eventually released, but the director is still being held and is expected to be charged. Christian persecution has also been on the rise.

The NCRI is based in France, and acts as a government in exile. They are opposed to Islamic theocracy and seek to bring about a free and fair democratic society in Iran. According to their official website:

"The NCRI is an inclusive and pluralistic parliament-in-exile that has more than 500 members, including representatives of ethnic and religious minorities such as the Kurds, Baluchis, Armenians, Jews and Zoroastrians, representing a broad spectrum of political tendencies in Iran. The NCRI aims to establish a secular democratic republic in Iran, based on the separation of religion and state. Women comprise 50 percent of the Council’s members. There are five organizations represented in the NCRI, including the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the largest and most popular resistance group in Iran."

In an interview in 2013, published by the NCRI, Savadjani spoke about his support for the opposition, which was the basis of the charges against him made by the regime. In it he takes full responsibility for his opposition to the theocratic regime of the mullahs and describes the human rights abuses they have committed, as well as the absence of a free and fair trial for him or other prisoners.

He said, "I worked with Simay-e Azadi (opposition satellite TV network) to reveal the criminal, warmongering and anti-Iran nature of the regime and the spread of poverty, corruption and destruction by them. I sent Simay-e Azadi information, and I also offered them a financial contribution. These activities of mine had been uncovered, and the regime had me under surveillance. I confirm I did this."

Initially, Savadjani was sentenced to three years in prison plus a three year suspended sentence. However, the prison tem was later change to six years and then to capital punishment. He said, "Regarding those charges, in these twenty and some years, I was never asked a single question."

Facing death, he appeared resolute. He declared, "I have no fear in declaring my support for the PMOI and accept that for this support and due to regime’s inhuman animosity toward the organization and its supporters, I will be sent to the gallows."

At the close of the interview he was asked if he had any message he wanted to share. He said, "I am asking those who are listening to me to be resolute in their will to overthrow this criminal and anti-human regime and to direct all their endeavors to the overthrow of this regime together with all its cohorts and to establish a popular, free, democratic state that supports equality and justice for each and every member of this nation."

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