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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).
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