Closed Trials for Kahrizak Suspects

Some three months since the electoral coup of June 12 and the mass arrest of political and media activists, and the airing of sham trials even as arrests continue, news reports now indicate that the trials of rape suspects in the Kahrizak detention center may be take place behind closed doors.

Till now, only a handful of detainees from the post June 12 election protests have been released, and then too with vary high bails. But there are also others such as Mohammad-Reza Jalaeipour, Mohammad Ghoochani and Sadegh Nowruzi who despite having provided the bail amount continue to be held behind bars, while there are reports that other prisoners such as Issa Saharkhiz whose arrest warrants have been extended for two more months. And then there are still others such as Abdollah Momeni, a prominent student activist whose whereabouts continue to remain in obscurity while his family’s  extreme concerns about his health and conditions grow by the day.

And as public opinion continues its protests to the sham trials that detainees are being subjected to, a Majlis representative is quoted by Tehran’s new prosecutor that trials of political prisoners will shift to closed door sessions after the elections.

Rooz spoke with a number of families who have prisoners about their conditions.

Saharkhiz Files Complaint Against Nokia

Members of Issa Saharkhiz’s family met with the prominent Iranian journalist who has been in detention for months at the notorious Evin prison on Monday. They said he appeared in good psychological condition adding that nothing had been done about his broken ribs. Saharkhiz was inured severely during his arrest causing broken ribs. His son Mehdi Saharkhiz, told Rooz that his father had had been transferred from a solitary cell to a room with three other people at ward 209 of the prison 3 days ago. His detention warrant has been extended for another 2 months, and despite the investigator’s orders to transfer him to a general ward, Saharkhiz remained in a solitary cell until just 3 days ago.

Mehdi also said that his father had asked him to file a suit against Nokia and follow it through. He quoted his father who had told him that Nokia had provided surveillance equipment to the Iranian government to help them track and arrest political and media activists.

Mortezavi Blocks Ghoochani’s Release

Maryam Baghi, the wife of Mohammad Ghoochani spoke about a new round of interrogations of her husband. About three weeks ago, the order to release Ghoochani had been issued after bail was met, but he continues to be held behind bars.

According to Ms Baghi, Tehran’s former prosecutor Saeed Mortezavi personally blocked his file on his last day at his post, thus preventing his release.

“Mortezavi’s opposition to the decision of the investigator in Baghi’s case is on the dossier of a revolutionary court where it has been sitting, she added.”

Ms Baghi said a new round of interrogations have begun of her husband, despite his release order, which has continued for the last 10 days without any cause. “These interrogations are long and intense which take place at ward 240, after which he is returned to ward 209 where Baghi is kept,” she added.

Closed Door Courts

A member of Majlis’ special committee investigating the conditions of prisons in Iran announced that Tehran’s new prosecutor general has cited certain provisions of the civil procedure and says is against holding public open hearings for detainees arrested in the post June 12 election protests. According to the lawmaker, the prosecutor believes that the publication of many issues, claims and accusations made by the defendants, are not lawful. Such closed door trials are to begin with the suspects related to the atrocities that were committed at the Kahrizak detention center.

Mehr news agency, which refrained naming the lawmaker, wrote that these closed door trials would start with Kahrizak adding, and quoted the lawmaker as saying, “if the Kahrizak trials are to be held behind closed doors, then the same should be followed regarding the detainees related to the post election protests.”