Lack of Information, Harsh Bails and Pressure to Confess

While remaining uncertain and concerned about the fate of their loved families, the families of political activists and journalists arrested in the aftermath of the June 12 coup must also watch the sham trials put together by the coup government. Some of these families do not have any news about their loved ones, while others live for a short telephone call. All of the families, however, expressed to Rooz their demands that the status of the prisoners be determined.

Under these circumstances, unusually harsh bail requirements, such as 600 million Tomans (about $600,000) for Javad Imam, member of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization’s central committee (Sazemane Mojahedin Engelab Eslami), fuel speculations that officials at the judiciary and security organizations do not intend to release the prisoners, but only attempt to absolve themselves of responsibility and put the blame on the families’ shoulders by portraying them as the responsible parties for the imprisonment of their loved ones.

On Monday, however, Hamzeh Ghalebi, the head of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s youth campaign branch was released on bail. Mohammad Zabihi, the head of the Qom Tarbiyat Modarres University (Teacher’s Training College) and senior member of the Principalist Association of Mousavi Supporters was released after a two-week detention, though his son continues to remain in detention. Other reports point to the release of Abdolrahim Soleimani Ardestani, a member of the Qom Seminary School Teachers and Researchers’ Association, who was arrested in an insulting manner at Behesht Zahra cemetery.

Meanwhile, the families of Behzad Nabavi and Feizollah Arabsorkhi continue to remain in the dark about the fate of their prisoners and have not been able to visit them since their arrest. Speaking to Rooz, the wives of these two detainees expressed their deepest concerns about the fate of their loved ones.

Unknown Fate of Abdollah Momeni and Mohammad Maleki

No news has been released about Abdollah Momeni since 28 days ago. The family of this prominent student activist is also extremely concerned. Abdollah Momeni’s wife, Fatemeh Adinehvand, tells Rooz, “This lack of information is extremely disturbing… We have no news about Abdollah since our visit. We are gravely concerned in light of his very poor physical and mental condition that we witnessed during our visit.”

She added, “We don’t know whether Abdollah is alive or not, or where and in what condition is he in.”

Mohammad Maleki’s family also is seriously concerned about his health and remains in the dark about Mr. Maleki’s condition.

According to Mohammad Maleki’s son, Ammar Maleki, his father is charged with instigating unrest. Mr. Maleki’s son dismissed the charge as outrageous, noting, “This charge is outrageous. My father could not have carried out such a thing because of his prostate disease and physical condition. Also, my father had boycotted the election and was not in any way active.”

Visitation with Ahmad Zeidabadi

The family of prominent Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi was able to visit this journalist yesterday which was also his birthday anniversary. Zeidabadi’s wife said that her husband was in good spirits, adding, “Ahmad’s interrogation had not ended. He was kept in Ward 240 of Evin Prison.”

She said, “Ahmad was extremely nervous and continued to insist the he doesn’t know what will happen and cannot analyze the situation.”

She said, “I asked Ahmad why he didn’t talk in court and he had responded that everyone had to express their regret in some way for their prior actions, and that he had to go to the court and do as everyone else.”