Mousavi condemns execution of Iranian prisoners

MirHosein Mousavi

Iranian opposition leader, MirHosein Mousavi condemned the sudden execution of five Kurdish prisoners in Tehran and likened it to the "unjust judicial procedures that have led to the awe-striking sentences issued for scores of Iranian citizens in recent months."

“When the judiciary rather than supporting victims stumbles toward protecting those in power, it is difficult to stop people from recognizing the cruelty and injustice of these sentences,” MirHosein Mousavi said in a statement published on Kaleme website.

He criticized the judiciary sending five individuals to the gallows despite the presence of significant “margins of doubt” in their charges, yet failing to prosecute “the perpetrators of crimes committed in Kahrizak Detention Centre, at Tehran University dorm, at the demonstrations of June 15th and 20th and Ashura Day, and also quickly closing the widespread cases of corruption.”

Yesterday the Islamic Republic judiciary executed five Kurdish political prisoners under great secrecy. The sudden and unannounced execution of Farzad Kamangar, Shirin Alam Holi, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian shocked their families and attorneys who were not given proper notification.

Human rights groups as well as Iranians abroad condemned the executions and in Paris angry demonstrators even attacked the Islamic Republic embassy which led to altercations with French police.

The Campaign for Human Rights in Iran contends that the government is using these politically charged executions to create an atmosphere of fear amongst people and quell the possibility of further protests.

In the past eleven months, Iranians have been engaged in various forms of protest against the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which the opposition claims was fraudulent.