Paris, 29 June 2007 - The International Federation for Human Rights
(FIDH) and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI)
express their deep concern at the arbitrary detention and sentencing of
Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi and a group of his
followers in the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to information
received, Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi was tried before the Special
Clerical Court, in which he was denied legal counsel, and sentenced to
death on June 10, 2007.
Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi was arrested on October 8, 2006 and has
been imprisoned since then. Hundreds of his followers were arrested in
the weeks preceding his arrest, but most of them were later released.
For much of the nine months of his imprisonment, Ayatollah Kazemeini
Boroujerdi was reportedly not informed of the charges against him, while
also being denied access to legal counsel. Despite the fact that Iranian
human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi and the Center for Human Rights
Defenders (CHRD) have offered to represent Ayatollah Kazemeini
Boroujerdi, he has been denied his right to contact a lawyer, as the
Special Clerical Court only accepts the legal credentials of clergy
members. The denial of this fundamental human right is a violation of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran
is a party.
Indeed, the Special Clerical Court itself stands outside of the legal
framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as it is not provided for by
any legislation. Thus, Kazemeini Boroujerdi’s imprisonment, trial, and
sentencing, while all in contravention of international human rights
law, also violate Iranian law. Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi espouses
the belief that religion and politics should be separate, and thus calls
into question the foundations of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The
sentences pronounced against Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi and his
followers are thus in violation of the freedom of opinion, making them
prisoners of conscience.
In addition to being denied any legal counsel and information about the
charges brought against him, Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi has been
denied any contact with his family, despite the fact that his mother
reportedly fell ill and died during his imprisonment. At the same time,
he is reportedly suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and has been denied
medical treatment. According to the information available, Ayatollah
Kazemeini Boroujerdi, forced to defend himself before the Special
Clerical Court, was too ill to stand upright and had trouble speaking
clearly. After unfair and seemingly arbitrary proceedings, Kazemeini and
a reported 17 others were sentenced to death. The date of their
executions remains unknown.
Due to the lack of transparency of the Iranian judiciary, especially
regarding the Special Clerical Court, it is impossible to obtain
confirmation of this information; in a case involving the execution of
18 people for their religious and political beliefs, this is
particularly alarming and in complete violation of the Iranian
government’s international obligations.
FIDH and LDDHI reiterate their concern for the physical health and
psychological integrity of Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi and his
followers, as well as its dismay at their treatment, notably their
imprisonment without medical attention or legal support for nine months,
the absence of any representation before an illegal court and their
sentencing to death for their opinions. Since the Special Clerical Court
is not provided for in Iranian law and the fair trial guarantees have
been blatantly violated, any attempt to carry out the sentences will
amount to arbitrary execution. FIDH and LDDHI call on the Iranian
authorities to reverse all relevant sentences immediately and release
these prisoners of conscience without delay, in respect of the
international human rights obligations binding upon the Islamic Republic
of Iran.
Press contact : Karine Appy + 33 1 43 55 14 12 / + 33 1 43 55 25 18
—
Isabelle Brachet
Desk Officer for Asia
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
17, passage de la Main d’Or
75011 Paris – France
tel : + 33 1 43 55 25 18
fax : + 33 1 43 55 18 80
www.fidh.org