A protest has been planned for today at 11 AM Tehran time, in front of the Judiciary Chief Shahroodi’s office. The protest is being held against the trial, by the Iranian government, of around 100 reformist leaders, political prisoners and journalists. The families of the detainees have released statements asking for the people of Iran, to stand by them, in this time of need.

Protests are also planned for August 3 – the day of Ahmadinejad’s official appointment by Khamenei, as Iran’s president, August 5 – the day of Ahmadinejad’s inauguration – and August 7 – Imam Mahdi’s birthday celebration.

Khamenei’s brother Hadi Khamenei, today criticized the government’s actions in the post-election violence. He said the cases of detention centers that have been closed, because of the inhumane conduct with detainees, needs to be investigated and the people involved violating human rights should be prosecuted. In a meeting with freed prisoners, Hadi Khamenei – who is a member of the Imam’s Way faction of parliament – said that the Guardian Council had erred in supporting a specific candidate and that the killing of peaceful protesters must end.

It has now been confirmed 3 American hikers, have been arrested by Iranian border guards, after they mistakenly entered Iranian territory while hiking in Northeastern Iran. The Iranian media ran the story saying that the hikers repeatedly ignored warnings by the guards. The US has asked the Swiss Embassy in Tehran – which carries out diplomatic ties on behalf of the US with Tehran – to intervene and secure the release of the hikers as soon as possible.
(This might not seem relevant to the Iran Elections – yet we all know that this COULD become ugly if Iran decides to use the hikers to blame the US of intervention in Iran.)

Today, the Iranian government put more than 100 detainees on trial, who according the government, were responsible amongst other things for sabotage, anti-government activity, subversion and the instigation of a ‘Velvet Revolution’ with help from foreign elements. Prominent reformists were among the detainees, including:

- Mohammad Ali Abtahi: A former Vice President of Iran and a close associate of former President Mohammad Khatami. He is a member of the central council of Association of Combatant Clerics (Majma'e Rowhaniyoon-e Mobarez).

- Mohsen Mirdamadi: Leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front.

- Behzad Nabavi: A former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iran and one of the founders of the reformist party Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization.

- Mohsen Aminzadeh: Deputy Foreign Minister under Khatami.

- Abdollah Ramezanzadeh: A former spokesman and secretary of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran under Muhammad Khatami.

- Mohammad Atrianfar: The head of the "Policymaking Council" of the daily newspaper Shargh, a member of the Executives of Construction Party, a senior political advisor to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former elected a member of the City Council of Tehran from 1999 to 2003 and the Vice Minister of Interior in Politics under Minister Abdollah Noori as well as a vice president in Defence Industries Organization of Iran and a former editor-in-chief of the newspaper Hamshahri.

Other detainees included prominent political activists, reporters and other important Iranian personalities. The presiding judge was Judge Salavati of the 15th circuit of the Revolutionary Courts (could not find his first name). The government had previously announced that only 20 people would be put on trial on similar charges. It is worth noting that the lawyers of many defendants were not present during the trial. Saleh Nikbakht, who’s been appointed by the families of Abtahi, Nabavi, Safaie Farahani and Aminzadeh to represent the defendants, later claimed he had not been allowed to be in court for the trial.

Some of specific charges against the defendants were:

- Attacks on Military Installations with firearms and bombs.
- Attacks on government buildings and setting them on fire.
- Destruction of public and private property.
- Creating fear amongst the populace.
- Establishing contacts with militant organizations.
- Beating of ordinary citizens.
- Distributing leaflets against the government.
- Beating security forces.

Two of the men on trial were forced to read "confessions"

It was claimed, during the initial trial, that some of the defendants had acknowledged the accuracy of the elections’ results and had denied that any fraud had taken place. Later, during ‘confessions’, Abtahi and Atrianfar declared that no fraud had taken place during the election. Abtahi also said that Rafsanjani, Khatami, Karroubi and Mousavi had made a pact to back each other up to discredit Ahmadinejad, in case he won the election.

He also went on to say that the ‘velvet revolution’ had agents who were to incite women, minorities, human rights activists, laborers, NGOs and students to take part. He blamed Shadi Sadr and Shirin Ebadi for inciting women. Nowsheen Hamadani Khorasani, an unknown individual, was also blamed for inciting women.

Mousavi's response:
“It is being said that the sons of revolution have confessed to planning to overthrow the Islamic Republic and the role of foreigners in this. I personally and carefully examined their words and did not find any truth to any of them… What we saw and you saw is nothing but an unskilled preparation for the start of the government’s term. They want a court that is fraudulent to find instances of fraud in the elections.”

He added that the defendants should know that people know the confessions were only made to save the lives of the defendants.

http://www.petitioniran.com/?page=petition&pid=YLT5392


Text of Petition:

To: International Communities

Demand to the International Communities to take Urgent action in order to stop the crimes by the Islamic Republic of Iran and to bring those responsible to justice.

Iranians within and without Iran through this petition demand the support of all political, humanitarian, and judicial bodies of the world to come out with a quick decision and action in order to stop the brutal suppression of the Iranian people by the current regime. The world is watching. Thousands of images and videos are allowing the world to witness the true nature of this regime. The current establishment is cracking down on millions of Iranians who are demanding freedom, justice, democracy, and their basic human rights. These actions are not just against the Islamic Republic's constitution, but it's also an affront to all of humanity and human dignity. The Islamic Regim of Iran through the leadership of Ali Khamenei in implementing their tyrannical suppression, are not backing down nor acknowledging the mass killings and torture taking place of Iranians of all ages including the most vulnerable in the society.

To achieve their hold on power, they will use any means necessary, whether it be the killing of pregnant women, the children, the elderlies, the wounded, the handicapped, and so forth. Clearly this regime has blocked all communication between Iran and the free world in order to conceal the vast injustice taking place from the eyes of the world.

We signatories of this petition demand from all international organizations to highlight and take immediate action in this critical time in the world history in order to put pressure on the Iranian government to stop the crimes and help eventually bring these criminals to justice.

Eternal Land A non-profit organization promoting human rights and democracy in Iran Fax: (877) 667-4474 / (877) Moshiri