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British Lawyers Express Concern Over "Serial Murders" Sentences in Iran

Press Release: Bar Human Rights Committee, 31st January 2001 

For immediate release- 31st January 2001 

Iranians convicted for 'political murders' sentenced to death 

Eighteen employees from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence have been sentenced for the murders of four secular dissidents. Three have been sentenced to death; three acquitted and the remainder given prison sentences for terms up to life imprisonment. 

The Bar Human Rights Committee has expressed its serious concerns as to the fairness of the trials, and the nature of the punishments. The harassment and intimidation of the lawyers involved in the case is also of extreme concern. 

The sentences were announced on Saturday 27th January, following a trial which took place behind closed doors. Concerns about the fairness of the trials have been expressed by the families of the victims and reformists inside and outside Iran, who believe that the murders were part of a wider campaign that has taken place over many years. There has been concern that minor officials have been tried whilst no attempt has been made to identify those who ordered the killings. A pro-reform journalist and a former interior minister claim that the real number of those killed was as high as eighty, and that senior clerics conspired with high-ranking intelligence officials to carry out the murders, although such allegations have been denied.

The families of the victims boycotted the trials declaring they ad no trust in the proceedings.

Daily statements from the Public Relations Department at the Judicial Organization of Armed Forces (JOAF) were the only source of information for the media. 

A lawyer representing families of the victims, Nasser Zarafshan, was arrested a week before the trials for expressing doubts about the preparations for these proceedings. The lawyer Shirin Ebadi, also representing victim's families has been debarred for investigating aspects of these serial murders. 

Stephen Solley QC, BHRC Chair, stated 

"Given the considerable uncertainties and inconsistencies that have permeated this trial, and the severity of the sentences we call on the Iranian authorities to review these cases either by setting up an independent commission of inquiry or supporting the setting up of such a commission.

We urge that any appeals which are conducted are done so fairly, in public and in accordance with internationally recognised standards. In addition, it is vital that lawyers involved in the cases are allowed to undertake their duties free from harassment and threat, as outlined in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers."  

Today's statement of concern reflects the wider concerns of the BHRC regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and the heightened threats facing human rights activists. 

The BHRC has stated its intention to apply for permission for independent observers to attend any appeal hearings in the cases of the Berlin Conference attendees, a group of whom were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 10-4 years following trials earlier this year.

(See BHRC press release of 25-01-01). 

Note to Editors:

Background: 

In November 1998, secular opposition leader Dariush Foruhar and his wife, Parvaneh, were stabbed to death in their Tehran apartment. Within weeks, three leading writers outspoken in their demands for greater freedom of expression in Iran -- Majid Sharif, Mohammad Mokhtari nd Mohammad Pouyandeh -- were also found murdered.  

In late 1998, Iranian authorities announced that a circle of "rogue" intelligence agents had carried out the killings, but without the knowledge of top intelligence ministry officials. Then, in June 1999, the agent named as the mastermind behind the assassinations, Said Emami, was reported to have killed himself in prison by drinking a bottle of hair remover. 

During the trials it was reported that defendant Ali Rowshani admitted murdering Mokhtari and Pouyandeh. But he said he had done so under orders from Mostafa Kazemi, a former head of internal security at the intelligence ministry and another man, Merhdad Alikhani. Another pair of defendants are reported to have admitted killing the Forouhars, a
husband and wife found dead at home from multiple stab wounds. They too said they had received orders from Kazemi and Alikhani. Another man reportedly said he had assisted in the murder.  Kazemi was said to have told the court that he had been the mastermind behind the killings, while Alikhani said the decision was taken "collectively." 

Families of the victims have seen documents showing that in previous 'confessions' Kazemi had said he followed orders issued by the then minister of Intelligence, Dorri Najaf Abadi. 

Journalist Akbar Ganji who published a book and a series of articles alleging former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was linked to the murders has been given a 10 year prison sentence and 5 years internal exile for attending a conference in Berlin and for possession of "Highly Confidential documents from the Ministry of Islamic Guidance". In early Dec 2000, a lawyer for the families of Mokhtari and Pouyandeh, Nasser Zarafshan, was jailed after claiming other people had also been killed and that the assassinations had been ordered by religious decree.

It is not clear if the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence tried over the last 2 weeks have been identified by their real names. Many Iranians believe their identities have been kept ecret and that their "confessions" are part of a deal to allow them immediate freedom after the trials, irrespective of the verdict.  Iran's supreme leader had claimed on a number of occasions that these murders were acts of sabotage by foreign powers and that the 'rogue agents' were working for US and Israeli Intelligence, yet the court never took up this claim. 

The Bar Human Rights Committee is the international human rights arm of the Bar of England and Wales.  It is concerned with defending the rule of law and internationally recognized human rights standards.  For further information please contact the Bar Human Rights Committee: Tel: 020 7395 9508, e-mail: bhrc@compuserve.com 

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