February 08, 2014

Ayatollah Tortured, Near Death, in Iran for Criticizing Political Islam

Gatestone Institute - Ayatollah Boroujerdi's condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he suffered severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell. The authorities still refuse to transfer him to a medical facility and are denying him the most basic medical care. We ask for intervention to save his life.
Ayatollah Hossein-Kazamani Boroujerdi, a senior member of the Shiite Muslim clergy, is presently serving the eighth year of an 11-year sentence handed down to him by the Islamic Republic's courts for advocating the separation of state and religion inside Iran. He has also spoken against political Islam and its leaders. As a result, during his time in prison, he has been exposed to torture especially reserved for the Islamic Republic's dissident clergy and political prisoners. Boroujerdi has endured the rape of his spouse in front of other family members. He has been purposely exposed to toxic chemical agents while kept in a small solitary cell. As a result, he now suffers permanent neurological damage, further aggravated by group beatings. Urgent medical attention has been systematically withheld for his long list of ailments, which are mostly a direct result of years of torture and malnutrition.
On September 29, 2013, for example, Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffered a heart attack in prison for which he was refused medical intervention. His condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he had severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell, where he presently remains with no medical care.
Possibly due to Ayatollah Boroujerdi's prominence, the regime has apparently chosen not to execute him, but instead to kill him silently in prison. There were two failed attempts on his life by poisoning inside prison in 2012. His mother, detained at the same time, was also poisoned and died as a result. Previously, in November 2011, a prisoner on death row was told by the authorities that if he succeeded in killing Boroujerdi he would be set free. The attempt failed when other prisoners intervened.
To protest the violent crimes of political Islam in the Islamic Republic, Boroujerdi announced via audio tape from prison that: "I am not inclined anymore to wear this frock; this frock has no credit or value in Iran or the international community" and removed his clerical robes.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi descends from a long line of renowned Shiite clergy; both his father and grandfather were staunch opponents of religious leaders in politics. As a result, both of his parents, along with his brother, were killed by the authorities under mysterious circumstances, as is the regime's custom.
Despite his critical medical condition in prison, he remains defiant and his spirit remains unbreakable: he has stated hopes that his case will serve as a strong indictment of the Islamic Republic's despotic rule and unspeakable human rights violations.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi has risked losing his life slowly under torture by writing letters from inside prison to then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and to the United Nations, speaking of the absolute lack of freedom inside Iran, the grotesque human rights violations and the imminent danger of political Islam. Further, he recently urged people of Iran to boycott the so-called elections on June 14, 2013. As a direct result of this statement his tortures recommenced despite his extremely fragile medical condition.
Ms. Roya Araghi, an advocate of Boroujerdi who herself was jailed and tortured for defending the him, and has since fled Iran, believes that without medical treatment and international intervention, Ayatollah Boroujerdi will most likely die soon under torture.
On June 29, 2013, members of Ayatollah Boroujerdi's family went to Evin prison to visit him, and were shocked to see nature of his physical condition in the seventh year of his 11-year sentence. He has developed acute heart disease, which has led to the severe swelling of his feet and knees. He also suffers from ocular, pulmonary and respiratory disorders, but has been denied medical treatment by officials until he "repents "and "mends his ways".
On July 8, 2013, Boroujerdi was interrogated for an extended period of time by government agents for his refusal to concede to the demands of the regime by signing a letter of "repentance." He was informed that "the pressures and tortures will increase until he has been destroyed". He has thus far refused to surrender.
In a rare phone call to his family that followed this episode, he stated that he "will never give in to a single threat or intimidation tactic of the regime." His family stated that he also added, "he does not regret any of his actions and stands by his word, as he is prepared to die".
After their visit, the Boroujerdi family announced that the tyrannical regime of the Islamic Republic's fanatics continue systematically to exterminate political prisoners and prisoners of conscience through well-planned prolonged torture; both psychological and physical.
Despite a statement by then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012 and a plea by the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Dr. Ahmad Shaheed, to release Ayatollah Boroujerdi, the Iranian regime continues to torture this man of God whose only crime is advocating separation of religion from politics, democracy and human rights.
On July 24, 2013, Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador to the Office of Religious Freedom, condemned the prolonged detention of Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi by Iranian authorities, but to no avail.
The regime of Iran is silently executing Mr. Boroujerdi, without a bullet or a noose -- away from the eyes of the world. These silent executions are now a common method of killing political prisoners in Iran as the regime tries to hide its grotesque human rights violations and its escalating rate of executions of opponents.
The human rights activists for democracy in Iran would like to bring to the immediate attention of all international human rights organizations and governments that Ayatollah Boroujerdi's life is in grave danger due to deliberate withholding of necessary medical care by the authorities in Iran. We ask for an intervention on his behalf, to save his life.
Appendix: Partial List of Political Prisoners in Iran
Source: The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners (CFPPI)
Name
Age
Prison
City
Sentence
Charges
Ailment
Arrest Date
Mohammad-Reza Pourshajri
53
Central Prison
Karaj
4 years
Acting against national security
Insulting Islam
Insulting the Supreme Leader
Diabetes, kidney stones, heart attack, enlarged prostate
2010
Dr. Sayed Madani

Central Prison
Bandar Abbas
6 years
Acting against national security
Civil rights activist
Sociology Research
Gallbladder stones
2011
Dr. Nader Babai

Evin, ward 350
Tehran
74 lashes and 6 years suspended sentence
Social and civil activist arrested during the 2009 protests for helping his student Omid Dana.
war vet for Iran/Iraq war
2 strokes
internal bleeding
seizures
2012
Vahid Roohbakhsh

Evin, ward 350
Tehran
18 months suspended sentence
he was arrested during the 2009 protests on charges of protesting/gathering and propagating propaganda against the regime
due to severe beatings during torture he has lost 70% of his hearing and needs a hearing aid
2010
Dr. Haani Yazloo
59
Evin, ward 350
Tehran
6 years
propaganda against the regime
he was previously arrested and sentenced to 1 year in prison and 15 years in exile
He has had 2 open heart surgeries and suffers from extremely high blood pressure.
2012
Pajman Abdodlhossein Zade

Evin, ward 350
Tehran
Held for 1 year
Green movement activist from 2009 and arrested before and this year again
Broken arm during arrest
2012
Mehdi Khodai

Evin, ward 350
Tehran
7 years
human rights activist
acting against national security
Injured jaw and gums (due to beatings)
2012
Zaniar Moradi

Rajai Shahr
Karaj
Death-hanging
enemy of God
alleged killing of the son of an Imam
Broken spine and unbearable pain as result of routine torture, paralysis
2008
Loghman Moradi

Rajai Shahr
Karaj
Death-hanging
enemy of God
alleged killing of the son of an Imam
Broken spine and unbearable pain as result of routine torture
2008
Yashar Daralshafa

Evin
Tehran
5.5 years
acting against national security
insulting the President
Problems with spine and disc
2009
Saeed MatinPour
38
Evin
Tehran
8 years
acting against national security
contacting with foreigners
Extreme back pain and numb legs
1997
Ahmad Doneshpour

Evin
Tehran
Death
Supporter of the MEK
Crohn's and intestinal bleeding
2009
Ayatollah Hossein Boroujerdi
54
Evin
Tehran
One year in Tehran and 10 years exile
Accused of acting against national security, holding lectures and public incitement against the regime and Islamic Constitution
Due to torture he is suffering from Parkinson's diseases, heart disease, kidney failure, pulmonary edema, edema of the legs, diabetes, high blood pressure, 90% loss of vision in the right eye and many other ailments
2006
Rasool Badaghi

Rajai Shahr
Karaj
In prison 6 years
Teachers Union board member
Severe debilitating headaches
2009
Reza Shahabi

Evin ward 350
Tehran
4 years prison and 5 years ban on union activities, 70 million Tomans fine
Union worker activist member of imprisoned workers union
high blood pressure and neck and low back pain
2010
Mohammad Jarahi

Tabriz Prison
Tabriz
5 years
Workers Union member
Thyroid gland tumor which has developed to cancer
2011
Mohammad Ali Taheri
54
Evin ward 209
Tehran
7 years prison, 900 million Tomans fine and 64 lashes
Apostasy, violating national security establishment of a spiritual center( Erfan-e Halghe)
Has been on hunger strike 9 times and has serious infection of the mouth and jaw

Hamid Navid

Evin ward 350
Tehran
Death

Lymphatic cancer

Ali Alaee

Evin
Tehran
7 years
Collaboration with a hostile enemy government
Heart disease and spinal cord pain/injury

Mostafa Daneshjoo

Evin -- intelligence /security section
Tehran
in prison without sentencing
part of the Dervish Gonabadi group
Lung disease, difficulty breathing
2011
Reza Entesary

Evin
Tehran

Webmaster, blogger (blog: Majzobane Noor)
Injury to left arm
2011
Assadollah Hadi

Evin
Tehran
5 years
Ex-political prisoner in '80s
acting against national security
Severe heart disease along with problems with the meniscus of the knee
2009
Asghar Ghattan

Evin ward 350
Tehran
5.5 years
Ex-political prisoner in 80's
connection to MEK organization
Kidney and heart problems along with prostate issues
2010
Mohmmad Salemi
64
Evin ward 350
Tehran
3 years
Ex-political prisoner in 80's
connection to MEK organization
enemy of God
Heart disease and spinal sciatica and kidney problems
2009
Mohammad Sadigh Kabodavand

Evin
Tehran
10.5 years
establishing a human rights organization and acting against national security
Prostate problems
1997
Kamyar Sabeti

Evin
Tehran
5 years
spying
Heart disease

Sina Azeemi

Evin
Tehran
5 years
spying
Problems breathing/lung issues

Mohsen Daneshpour
67
Evin
Tehran
Death
acting against national security
enemy of God
connection to MEK organization
Heart and prostate disease
2009
Hassan Faraji

Evin ward 350
Tehran
7 years
spying
Heart disease, spinal cord injury, intestinal disease
2009
Alireza Ahmadi
30
Evin ward 350
Tehran

Collaborating with enemy
Broken legs during interrogation as a result of being kicked
2012
Tasavor Taghipour

Evin ward 350
Tehran
7 years
member of human rights organization and thus propaganda against the regime
Jaw and gum problems
2012
Mohammad Davari
41
Evin ward 350
Tehran
5 years
Acting against national security
Knee and lower back joint problems along with mouth and teeth injuries
2009
Amir Khoram
51
Evin
Tehran
8 years
Member of the Freedom Movement - conspiring against national security
Jaw and gum injuries
2009
Amir Eslami

Evin ward 350
Tehran
No sentence arrested in 2011
Member of Darvish Gonabadi and webmaster, blogger (blog: Majzobane Noor)
Severe heart and intestinal pain
2011
Rahman Ghahermanpour

Evin ward 350
Tehran
3.5 years
spying
Spinal cord pain, nose, ear and throat issues
2011
Esmael Barzagari

Evin ward 350
Tehran
No sentence arrested 2011
Acting against national security
Gum and jaw issues
2011
Nader Jani

Evin ward 350
Tehran
3.5 years
Assembly and collusion against national security
Spinal cord, heart lung problems
2012
Saeed Mohammad Ebrahimi

Evin ward 350
Tehran
5 years
insulting the Supreme Leader
Acting against national security
involvement in a soft Coup
Asthma and intestinal issues plus lower back Joint problem - herniated disc
2010
Hamid Reza Moradi

Evin ward 209
Tehran
No sentence
Member of Darvish Gonabadi
acting against national security
spreading lies and propaganda
Spinal stenosis
2011
Hossein Zarrini

Evin ward 350
Tehran
4 years
Assembly and collusion against national security
epilepsy
2010
Behnam Ebrahim Zade

Evin ward 350
Tehran
5 years
Workers Union Activist
Arthritis in the neck and ear, jaw and kidney pain
2010
Saeed Abedeeni

Evin ward 350
Tehran
8 years
Establishing and running a church from his home
Bleeding from stomach and bladder
2012
Farzad Rohi

Evin
Tehran
3.5 years
Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam
Sinusitis
2010
Assadollah Assadi

Evin ward 350
Tehran
10 years
Collaborating with enemy
Lung problems/disease
2010
Gholamreza Hosseini

Evin ward 209
Tehran
10 years
Collaborating with enemy
The destruction of the hip joint, and leg – gum issues
2010
Majid Assadi

Evin ward 350
Tehran
4 years
Assembly and collusion against national security
Anxiety and severe headaches
2008
Nader Karbassi
58
Evin
Tehran
No sentence
Communicating with opposition groups
Joint problem - herniated disc
2011
Mohammad Banazade Amir-Kheezi
68
Evin ward 209
Tehran
5 years
Communicating with MEK organization
History of surgery and has severe bone pain
2010
Mushallah Hatteri
61
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
15 years
Ex-political prisoner in the 80s
protesting in 2009 demonstrations
Has had heart surgery and suffers from brain hemorrhage
2009
Riazollah Sobhani
68
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
4 years
Professor of online Baha'i school, member of the Baha'i faith
History of heart surgery. arthritis in hands and feet
2011
Jamal Khanjani
80
Evin
Tehran
20 years
Member of the Baha'i faith
Accused of spying for Israel
Old age
2008
Mohammad Saifzadeh
66
Evin ward 350
Tehran
8 years
Establishing human rights organization and acting against the regime
Stroke, numbness of hands and feet. Severe chest pains
2011
Farhad Sadaghi
67
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
4 years
Professor of online Baha'i school and member of Baha'i faith
Kidney stones, gall bladder stones and cataracts
2011
Kayvan Samimi
65
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
6 years
Questioning the 2009 election results and calling the results fraudulent
Severe heart disease - joint problems - need for internal operations
2009
Sharokh Tanef
64
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
4 years
Being a member of the Baha'i faith
Joint pain
2008
Karim Ma'rof Aziz
70
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
Life in prison
spying
Diabetes - old age
1995
Behrooz Azizi Tavakoli
62
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
20 years
Member of Baha'i faith
Spying for Israel
Coronary Heart – Arthritis and herniated disc
1997
Fariba Kamal Abadi (female)

Evin
Tehran
20 years
Member of Baha'i faith
Spying for Israel
Osteoporosis
2007
Mahvash Shahriyari (female)

Evin
Tehran
20 years
Member of Baha'i faith
Spying for Israel
Osteoporosis and depression
2008
Hassan Fatali Ashtiani
64
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
15 years
Communication with MEK organization
Joint pain
2007
Kamran Mortezai
61
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
5 years
Member of Baha'i faith
Spying for Israel
Severe back and knee pain
2011
Amonollah Mostaghim







Rajai Shahr


Karaj
5 years
Member of Baha'i faith
And a teacher of the faith online
Diabetic, heart disease and history of open heart surgery
2010
Favad Moghadam
62
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
5 years
Member of Baha'i faith
And a teacher of the faith online
Swelling of the arteries and herniated disc
2011
Adelle Naemi
61
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
11 years
Member of Baha'i faith
Spying for Israel
Heart disease, diabetic and past gall bladder and intestine surgery
2011
Neymat Rashidi
21
Evin
Tehran
No sentence
Member of the minority group of Kurdistan
communications with opposition groups
Pain from injuries caused by torture
2011
Ali Ma'ezi
59
Central prison
Karaj
One year in prison - suspended
Enemy of God and supporter of MEK organization
bladder cancer
2011
Reza Joshan
27


2.5 years in prison and 3 years exile
Enemy of God
Vision and heart problems and increased blood platelet count
2010
Mijagh Bozdannejad
27
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
13 years
Communication with MEK
And paying tribute to those executed in 1988
depression
2007
Mohammad Ali Mansouri
53
Rajai Shahr
Karaj
18 years
Communication with MEK

2007
Saeed Maasoori
48
Gohardasht
Karaj
Life
Communication with MEK
Heart disease painful gums,, back pain
2000
Shahram Radmehr

Rajai Shahr
Karaj
9 years
Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam


Behnoud Gholizadeh

Rajai Shahr
Karaj
9 years
Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam


Sedigheh Moradi
54


9 years



Motahareh Bahrami
60
Evin
Tehran
10 years
Enemy of god and connection with MEK

2009
Kobra Bannazadeh Amirkhizi
62
Evin
Tehran
5 years
Enemy of god and connection with MEK


Peyman KasNezhad

Evin
Tehran
3 years
Connection with Israel


Davoud Asadi
78
Kianoush Sabouri





Omid Shahmoradi Sanandaji

Evin
Tehran
3 years
Acting against national security

2011
Mahdi Sajedifar
35
Evin
Tehran

Connection with foreign government

2011
Amir Moladoust







Morteza Rahim Tayefeh







Majid Mohammadi Moien

Evin
Tehran
4 years
Connection with foreign government

2012
Afshin Karampour







MohammadHossein Yousefpour

Evin
Tehran
5.5 years
Propaganda against the regime and apostasy

2009
Abdollah Momeni
36
Evin
Tehran

Propaganda against the regime and apostasy

2009
Alireza Ousivand Karimi







Omid Kokabee
31
Evin
Tehran
10 years
communicating with a hostile government
kidney problems some stomach issues
2011
Zeynab Jalalian
33
Dizel-Abad
Kermanshah
Life
enmity against God (moharebeh)
losing eye sight
2007
Hossein ronaghi
28
Evin
Tehran
15 years
Acting against national security
Kidny disease, stomach bleeding, several hunger strikes in prison
2009
Sakhi Rigi

Karoon
Ahvaz
20 years
Acting against national security, Webmaster, blogger, Jondollah supporter
Issue with his Thyroid gland

Ebrahim Rigi

Karoon
Ahvaz
11 years
Acting against national security and Jondollah supporter
Bladder, Kidney and urine tract

Esmael Vafavi

Karoon
Ahvaa
25 years
Acting against national security and Jondollah supporter
Seizures, severe headache and deformed in the region of the scalp due to lashing

Syed Zia Navabi

Karoon
Ahvaa
10 years
Acting against national security, Support for right of education
Gum and tooth infection

Majid Doori

Karoon
Ahvaa
6 years
Acting against national security, Support for Right ofEducation
Gum and tooth infection

Yousef Fotuhi

Karoon
Ahvaa
9 years
Connection with PEJAK
Suspicious painful lump between his shoulder

Kazem Khosh Namak

Karoon
Ahvaa
10 years
Collaborating with enemy
Extreme weakness of vision

No comments: