May 30, 2009

The letter of the Secretary-General of the Constitutionalist Party of Iran to the office of the high commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ayatollah Seyed Hosein Kazemeini Boroujerdi has passed harassing and intolerable days in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran for along time. The Constitutionalist Party of Iran has informed public opinions bout the condition of Ayatollah Boroujerdi and other political and ideological prisoners several times. Now despite of serious health condition of Ayatollah, he is being denied access to medical and treatment facilities. Ayatollah Boroujerdi has gone to hunger strike in protest to existing limitations for 23 days as it has led to deterioration of his physical condition. According to the report of Amnesty International on May 19, 2009; expanded Human Rights violation in Iran is being continued not only on Ayatollah Boroujerdi, but on other political and ideological prisoners.

I would like to ask the United Nations to according to the international covenants of Human rights send a representative of Human Rights on behalf of The Constitutionalist Party of Iran to visit Ayatollah Boroujerdi in order to become informed on and be entirely in contact with his condition, and then take the necessary actions. Also pay a way to transfer him to an equipped hospital and accessing to necessary medical facilities. Since Ayatollah Boroujerdi is being denied contact with his lawyers, we ask for his continuous access to them too.

With the best wishes
Dr. Nader Zahedi

May 29, 2009

Amnesty International Report 2009

Iran :
In March and May, seven Baha’i community leaders were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence officials. In August they were charged with vaguely worded national security offences. All were prisoners of conscience. Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi, a cleric opposed to the government, remained in prison in poor health serving an 11-year prison term imposed after an unfair trial by the Special Court for the Clergy (SCC) in August 2007. The sentence included internal exile and in November he was moved from Tehran to Yazd.
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May 27, 2009

A human's life is in danger

May 27, 2009: Update on Ayatollah Borujerdi. Sources close to dissident ayatollah Borujerdi tell FDI this morning from Iran that the jailed cleric, who went on a hunger strike several weeks ago to protest his imprisonment, was taken to the prison hospital a week ago and has been held incommunicado since then. "We have had no news from him whatsoever for the past week," a source close to the family told FDI. Borujerdi supporters also expressed frustration that letters they have sent to Javier Solana, the European Union's top diplomat, and to Human Rights Watch, have gone without response. "They never answered us. Only you and Amnesty International have paid any attention to Ayatollah Borujerdi's case," they said.

May 25, 2009

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the violation of religious freedom in Iran

25.5.2009

The European Union expresses its deep concern about the increasing violation of religious freedom in Iran.
In particular, the European Union condemns the continuing persecution by the Iranian authorities of legitimate expressions of Christian belief. According to available reports, the Iranian nationals Hamik Khachikian, Jamal Qalishourani and Nadereh Jamali, arrested in January 2009, continue to be detained without charges, as are Marzieh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rustampoor, arrested in March 2009. In March 2009, Seyed Allaedin Hussein, Homayoon Shokouhi and Seyed Amir Hussein Bob-Annari received a commuted sentence of eight months in prison. Available evidence suggests that the aim of this persecution is to suppress the free choice and expression of religious belief.
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The protest of Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s followers against continuation of repression and violation of Bahia’s rights in Iran

Along with the intensification of the process of arrest, detention and also threat to execution about another group of Bahia compatriots during last days, Mr. Boroujerdi’s followers ask international society to pay more attention to continued violation of primary rights of Bahia people in Iran. Mr.Boroujerdi’s followers believe that unfortunately Human Rights matter is always fallen a victim to transient and political interests within secret relations of governments; so Opposition group should take the responsibility of this matter and be as the reflex of extinguished voices of the tired society of Iran against religious despotism .

Since the beginning of Ahmadinejad administration the repression of civil movement, dissidents and the followers of other religions has accelerated as among all these, repression of Bahia compatriots is more serious and severer.
Bahia students’ deprival of the right to education, lack of enjoying the least civil rights, continued violation of citizen rights in a cover of legal actions!... and even issuing rough sentences and vain and unreal charges such as bombing and terroristic actions, that are issued in an unclear atmosphere without a fair trial, have written a dark future for Bahia people in Iran.

Mr. Boroujerdi’s followers in addition to insisting on freedom of belief and the right to free worship for the followers of other religions and also sympathizing with Bahia society, ask for carrying out and observing the World Human Rights Charter and their rights in Iran perfectly .

ACTION CALL: Letter to Ayatollah Shahrudi about Delara Darabi

judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi asking him to bring those responsible for Delara's illegal execution to justice.
To prevent repeat of such injustices we must strongly demand accountability for such inhumane actions.

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May 21, 2009

Ayatollah Boroujerdi's health is deteriorating in prison

Human Rights Activists In Iran
The condition of Ayatollah Boroujerdi is grave in seventeenth day of hunger strike.

According to a of report of a physician in Yazd central prison : the retina of Ayatollah Boroujerdi ideological prisoner has seriously damaged and now he suffers from deadly heart failure and must be quickly hospitalized in an equipped hospital. According to this report, his wounds caused by tortures have become infectious, due to the lack of necessary medical care. This liberal man suffered from many different diseases in advance of hunger strike and now he is severely weakened.
It is noticeable to mention that Ayatollah Boroujerdi's family and his lawyers' efforts to visit or have a phone call with him have had no result as yet.

May 20, 2009

Amnesty International: Ayatollah Boroujerdi's life is in danger

Document - Iran: Further Information on Arbitrary arrest/ fear for safety/ possible prisoner of conscience/ medical concern/torture and ill-treatment: Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi (m)

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/047/2009
19 May 2009

Further Information on UA 262/06 (MDE 13/114/2006, 29 September 2006) and follow-up (MDE 13/120/2006, 13 October 2006; MDE 134/2006, 11 December 2006; MDE 13/140/2007, 30 March 2007; MDE 074/2007, 15 June 2007; MDE 13/103/2007, 10 August 2007; MDE 13/135/2008, 11 September 2008 and MDE 13/045/2009, 14 May 2009) - Arbitrary arrest/ fear for safety/ possible prisoner of conscience/ medical concern/torture and ill-treatment

IRAN Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi (m), aged 50, Shi'a cleric

Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi was hospitalized in the medical facility of Yazd Prison on 17 May 2009. This was after he began a hunger strike on 5 May to protest against the suspension of his rights to make telephone calls to his family and lawyer and to receive visits from them. Amnesty International fears that the prison clinic may not provide all the medical attention he needs.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi is being held in solitary confinement. He was beaten in prison by officials following a letter he wrote on 1 May 2009 to United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, requesting that international observers be sent to Iran in order to pave the way for, and to assist, in allowing the Iranian people to have an open referendum on the system of government.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi has been repeatedly denied adequate treatment outside prison for his medical concerns including Parkinson's disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

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May 17, 2009

Ayatollah Boroujerdi is hospitalized in the clinic of prison

Human Rights Activists
This morning the officials of Yazd central prison informed Mr. Boroujerdi’s family that he has been hospitalized in the clinic of this prison.

Mr. Boroujerdi has gone on hunger strike since 5 May 2009 in protest against the condition which he is in. during this time he was beaten and transferred to solitary confinement. This dissident clergyman has been deprived of his legal rights such as family visit and call or even communication with his lawyer since his hunger strike.

Mr. Boroujerdi’s heart and kidney problems also his hunger strike have intensified concerns on his condition.

Iran: Ensure free presidential election

15 May 2009
Amnesty International has today called on the Iranian authorities to ensure that the forthcoming presidential election to be held on 12 June 2009 are free of discrimination – particularly against women - and that candidates and voters are guaranteed effective exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly during the election campaign. The organization’s appeal was made in a letter addressed to Ayatollah Jannati, the Chair of the Council of Guardians1, following the recent closure of registration of candidates for the presidential election.

The Council of Guardians screens all candidates for election to “ensure their suitability for the Presidency”. Article 115 of the Constitution stipulates that candidates must be from amongst “religious and political personalities” [Persian: rejal] and possess: “Iranian origin; Iranian nationality; administrative capacity and resourcefulness; a good past record; trustworthiness and piety; convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country.” In previous elections, the majority of candidates registered were disqualified under these criteria, including all women. The exclusion of women appears to have been on an interpretation of the word rejal as meaning “men”...

Recent cases of concern to Amnesty International include:

Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi, who advocates the removal of religion from the political basis of the state, is serving an 11-year prison sentence imposed on 13 August 2007 after his initial death sentence for “enmity against God” was commuted. On 5 May 2009 he was allegedly beaten while held in solitary confinement in Yazd prison, where he is held in internal exile, after he sent an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, requesting that international observers be sent to Iran in order to assist the Iranian people in an open referendum on the system of government in Iran. Since then he has not been allowed to contact family members, who have said that prison officials told them he was being punished for his statement concerning the referendum.

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May 14, 2009

Document - Iran: Further Information on Arbitrary arrest/ fear for safety/ possible prisoner of conscience/ medical concern/torture and ill-treatment:

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/045/2009
14 May 2009
Further Information on 262/06 (MDE 13/114/2006, 29 September 2006) and follow-up (MDE 13/120/2006, 13 October 2006; MDE 134/2006, 11 December 2006; MDE 13/140/2007, 30 March 2007; MDE 074/2007, 15 June 2007;MDE 13/103/2007, 10 August 2007 and MDE 13/135/2008, 11 September 2008) - Arbitrary arrest/ fear for safety/ possible prisoner of conscience/ medical concern/torture and ill-treatment

IRAN Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi (m), aged 50, Shi'a cleric
Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi was subjected to beatings on 5 May 2009 in Yazd Central Prison, central Iran, where he was transferred in the latter part of 2008. He has been held in solitary confinement since 27 January 2009. He may be a prisoner of conscience, held only because of his religious beliefs.

On 1 May, Ayatollah SayedHossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi wrote a letter to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, requesting that international observers be sent to Iran in order to pave the way and to assist Iranian people in an open referendum on the system of government (see letter at http://www.hrairan.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=967:456&catid=66:304&Itemid=293).

Following this letter, Ayatollah Boroujerdi was beaten in prison on 5 May and in protest he began a hunger strike. The prison authorities reportedly told the Ayatollah’s family that his telephone privileges of calling his family and lawyer were being suspended and that he was being punished for his latest statements about a referendum. There is no information available to Amnesty International as to his present condition with regard to his hunger strike.

May 13, 2009

The first part of Mr. Boroujerdi’s unpublished interview in the prison

Date: May, 2009

1- When have you become aware of the decadence and deviation of political Islam?

I have become aware since they had started to fight against Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. My father who was one of the greatest apolitical Ulema of the Capital city of country and was familiar with the founder of this government at the time of his education in Qom, quoted from one of his teachers, Ayatollah Agha Sheikh Abdonnabi Iraqi-Najafi who was one of the religious authorities in that time and advised my father to avoid the company of him (Mr. Khomeini), “ He is a visionary philosopher that has imagined an Utopia in his mind and his activities are related to this thoughts and is along to get to this goal too.” He also said about Ayatollah Haj Agha Seyed Hosein Boroujerdi, the popular religious and social leader of Shiites in 50 years ago, that he forbade all learned people and students of his school to associate and sympathy with the founder of the Islamic Revolution. Moreover, I was strongly prevented from political Islam by one of my teachers, Ayatollah Seyed Kazem Shariatmadary who was the religious leader of all Iranian Muslims. Although, he was tormented and annoyed in the beginning of the revolutionaries’ movement, he avoided rising against them because of keeping peace in the country and saving nation’s life. Finally, he was murdered by the agents of the regime that claims to be religious and republic.

2- When have you started your fights against political Religion and how has this movement been formed?

Since eighteen years ago, it has been started in the shape of forming cultural classes in order to use divine, religious and spiritual texts that were made accessible to the society as cassettes and booklets.

3- Have your experiences strengthened your thoughts and opinions to avoid religious government?

Yes. Now that I observe the economical, credit, belief, social and international reports of the governments pretending to be religious during these 30 years, I bow and revere for the late religious leaders of this country because they were aware of the damaging results and interference of religion in politics and were familiar with the base and origin of this revolution that is the cause of annihilation of Islam and destroying Iran. Also, they rightfully prevented and kept us away from depending on it.

4- Aren’t you tired of having not used the privileges of political religion and benefits of the revolution and of being under tortures and torments of the military, Information and security agents?

No! When I see the misery and pain of my compatriots that the regime has annihilated their world under the name of God and prophet’s tradition, and their lives have been made bitter with the unreal slogans of the expert and fraudulent persons, I become more determined to stand up in hidden, appalling and destroying prisons of Iran.

5- According to the existing pictures and films, you have a great popular supports, why do you not ask your followers to demonstrate?

During the years of this government, the intensity of suffocation has been in such level that any gathering with even in a few numbers has been forbidden. Every kind of protest will severely be repressed and every shout and voice will be extinguished by the regime. Its best sign is the numerous prisons have been built by the regime that is not comparable with the last Empire government. Although building prisons and imprisoning people is not lawful in Shiite jurisprudences, the defamatory and oppressor judicial system always moves in the pathway of building prisons and houses of detention. I am aware of the malice, cruelty and rascality of the harsh government of Iran and I know that in spite of Shah’s policy that rejected massacre, they kill millions of people because of any strike or protest, so when I remember the unforgettable fate of people during the past unforgivable and deplorable years that what criminals committed and how many people were killed, I avoid public call. I believe that humanitarian organizations and international legal and human societies should pave the way for administration of Iranian nation’s rights by persuading the present government to hold a free and independent referendum under the United Nation observation and give the right to life to the people are captive in the grasps of the despotism of Vilayat-e-Faqih in this way. Certainly, the life conditions of this nation are more unpleasant than that of Palestinian, Iraqi, Lebanese and Afghan people.

6- What do you expect the world’s nations to do?

I expect all liberals of our age to follow up my news more exactly and ask their governments to revise their relations with Iran and moreover, ask the world high ranking positions to save us from these inhuman conditions and demand the United Nations Security Council to deter Iran from these criminals by issuing some laws and add them to its conviction.

Respectfully yours,
Seyed Hosein Kazemeini Boroujerdi