NCRI – Tehran’s deputy prosecutor on security, Hassan Zare known as Qazi Hadad, head of directorate of security, described the Ward 209 of the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran as “one of the best detention centers in the world.”
Speaking to the state-run news agency IRNA on Sunday he said, “Ward 209 is a unique prison facility not to be compared with any other in the world.” He brazenly described solitary confinements in Evin as “well-equipped suites,” and stressed, “We have the best security prisons in the world and the officials who have visited these prisons have confirmed it.”
It is a common knowledge that Ward 209 is designated for political prisoners in Evin where outside observer was ever allowed to visit it. It is noteworthy that saeed Mortazavi, Tehran’s notorious Prosecutor General, murdered Ms. Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist under barbaric torture.
Since 1980, Hadad has been serving the regime’s judiciary. He has a long record of trying and torturing political prisoners. In 2005, before his appointment as Tehran’s deputy prosecutor on security, he served as a judge at the Revolutionary Court number 26 where most “security” cases were tried by him.
By formation of the security directorate, the political cases are referred to this section. Many of political activists, students, journalists and those arrested at rallies have been tried by judge Hadad. He has personally participated in interrogations of members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
In a reference to the new wave of arrests following widespread protests across the country, he said, “20 thugs and hooligans with heavy charges have been referred to the Punitive Court of Tehran Province. The prosecutor has asked for heaviest punishment against them.” Heaviest punishment in mullahs’ terms means execution. He also mentioned that 200 more cases are under investigation as “thugs and hooligans.”
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
August 16, 2007
