Doc. 12501
26 January 2011
Executions in Iran
Written Declaration No 466
On 24 January 2011 the Iranian regime executed political prisoners Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad-Ali Haj-Aqai for taking part in anti-government protests in 2009, supporting the main opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), and visiting their relatives in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. The executions were an act of vengeance against families of PMOI members residing in Ashraf following worldwide support for the Iranian Resistance.
Amnesty International quoted reports as saying Jafar Kazemi was tortured for months at Evin prison to
force him to make a televised “confession” but he refused to do so.
“For months, the residents of Camp Ashraf have been subject to constant harassment, pressure and
siege-like conditions by the Iraqi authorities who wish them to leave Iraq. They would be at very serious risk if forced to return to Iran”, Amnesty International said.
In December, Iran’s most prominent political prisoner, Ali Saremi, was hanged after 24 years behind
bars. His only crime was to have visited his son in Ashraf and peacefully campaigned in support of the PMOI.
The United Nations Security Council and the European Union should condemn these barbaric
executions and suspend economic and diplomatic ties with the regime until there is a halt to torture and
execution in Iran.
