His Excellency António Guterres

Secretary General of United Nations

The United Nations

New York, NY 10017

Re: International campaign to prevent the execution of political prisoners Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi and their immediate release from Execution.

Your Excellency,

It is with utmost urgency that we appeal to the international community to prevent the execution of Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi, three young men arrested during the nationwide anti-government protests in November 2019, in Iran, and to facilitate his immediate release.

Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi are at risk of execution after Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by notorious judge Abolqassem Salavati widely known as Iran’s “hanging judge”, convicted them of several charges including “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and sentenced them to death. On 18 February 2020, during his weekly press conference, Iran’s judiciary spokesperson accused them of being “riot leaders” who had “set fire to banks and petrol stations [during the nationwide protests in November 2019] and had filmed their criminal acts and sent the videos to foreign media”. They were also sentenced to between 11 and 16 years in prison and flogging on charges including “armed robbery”, which were related to separate incidents, according to an informed source. Their lawyers received the verdict in mid-February 2020.

Amnesty International at the time called their trial “unfair” and said they had been tortured during interrogation to obtain a confession. 

Mustafa Nili, a family lawyer for the three defendants, tweeted on Thursday, July 26, that “yesterday I read the news of the confirmation of my clients’ death sentences in a number of media outlets, and yesterday a number of other media outlets denied it.” He added that as a lawyer, “I have not yet been able to enter the case and declare my representation. “I hope this illegal process ends as soon as possible.”

Hussein Taj, another lawyer for the families, said the news of the confirmation of the death sentences of the three detainees in the November events was “shocking”, adding that “despite obtaining a power of attorney, it has not been possible to enter the Supreme Court.” “If the verdict is upheld, we will request a retrial.”

Some acquaintances and relatives of the defendants told Radio Farda that their families are under severe security pressure not to report on their children’s condition.

We believe that the draconian sentence is part of an ongoing and systemic attempt by Iran’s government to criminalize dissent and peaceful protest.  The three men were peaceful protesters with demands for democracy, human rights, and economic justice.  Executing them is thus contrary to core principles of human rights law and international treaties to which Iran is a signatory.

It is with a great sense of urgency that we appeal to your high office to support Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi, through an immediate and firm diplomatic response to ensure their immediate and unconditional release.

We sincerely thank you for your assistance and consideration to this urgent humanitarian matter.

Very truly yours,               

*********************************************************

در آبان ۹۸هزاران هزار ایرانی برای محرومیت از ابتدایی ترین حقوق اقتصادی و سیاسی خود به دور از خشونت اعتراض کردند. ج. ا در حالی که احساس تهدید می‌کرد، بار دیگر با قتل بیش از ۱۵۰۰ نفر و زندانی کردن بیش از ۱۲۰۰۰ بیگناه، واکنش وحشیانه‌ای نشان داد و خانواده های قربانیان را از برگزاری مراسم تشییع جنازه محروم کرد. بازداشتی ها از حق داشتن وکیل نیز محروم شدند.

جمهوری اسلامی قصد دارد سه جوان ایرانی ، امیرحسین مرادی ، سعید تمجیدی و محمد رجبی را به اتهام دفاع مسالمت آمیز از آزادی و عدالت اعدام کند. اصل اعدام به معنای کشته شدن یک انسان توسط دولت است. با توجه به اینکه این سه جوان ، مانند همه مردم ایران، در ماه نوامبر به صورت مسالمت آمیز فقط خواستار مطالبات قانونی خود بودند، بنابراین اعدام آنها یک جرم و جنایت حکومتی است.

امیرحسین مرادی، سعید تمجیدی و محمد رجبی امروز به دلیل دفاع مسالمت آمیز از آزادی، عدالت و حاکمیت قانون در انتظار اعدام هستند.

قاضی شرع ابوالقاسم صلواتی، که دستور قتل بسیاری از شهروندان بی گناه ایرانی را صادر کرد، کسی است که دستور قتل امیرحسین مرادی، سعید تمجیدی و محمد رجبی را صادر کرد. او امروز بر صندلی قضاوت نشسته اما یک جنایتکار است که باید در دادگاه به دلیل جرایم علیه بشریت محاکمه شود.

ما از سازمان‌های مدافع حقوق بشر و ملل دموکراتیک می خواهیم تا از مردم ایران در راه مبارزه برای آزادی، سکولاریسم و دموکراسی حمایت و فشار حداکثری بر ج. ا وارد کنند تا از مرگ این سه جوان بیگناه ایرانی جلوگیری شود.

CC:

His Excellency François Delattre

Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations

Her Excellency Kelly Knight Craft ?

United States Ambassadors to the United Nations

His Excellency Matthew Rycroft

Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations

His Excellency François Christoph Heusgen

Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations

His Excellency Marc-André Blanchard

Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations

His Excellency Excellency Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein,

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

********************

Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein,

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Mr. Javid Rahman,

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Mr. José Guevara 

Chair-Rapporteur, The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Mr. David Kaye,

Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary,

Secretary General of the Amnesty International