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Human Rights Watch: Iran Stop ‘Framing’ Government Critics
by Barbara McPherson | July 21, 2009 at 04:09 pm
63 views | 16 Recommendations | 4 comments
Human Rights Watch called on the Iranian government to stop framing government critics. They allege that the people in power in Iran are using torture and coercive tactics to wring false confessions out of those arrested. They go on to say that the authorities are using those that they have jailed to falsely implicate more senior members of the reform movement.
In the aftermath of the June 12 contested presidential election, the government has arrested hundreds of political dissidents and supporters of the reformist candidates Mir Hussein Mousavi and Mehdi Karrubi. In many cases, the authorities have refused to provide information about the conditions of their detention. Some detained reformist leaders, including Mostafa Tajzadeh, Behzad Nabavi, and Hamzeh Ghalebi, have had no contact with their families since their arrests more than a month ago.
Human Rights Watch goes on to say that families of those arrested while protesting the election results have been pressured to remain silent about the treatment of their relatives.
The father of one detainee who reportedly made such a confession told Human Rights Watch that, in a brief telephone call home, his son stated that he was "well." When his father told him that an attorney is following up his case, he replied that he "does not need any lawyer, as nobody can help him." "He then started crying and the phone was disconnected," the father said. "His family is familiar with his strong spirit and we were deeply concerned by his tone and tears."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 16:17 on July 21st, 2009
The Iran government is determined to crush all dissent.
I do not think they will listen to this group.
at 18:28 on July 21st, 2009
Good piece, Barbara. HR Iran has been posting disturbing articles about several dissenters died during their detention.
at 18:55 on July 21st, 2009
The reform movement however can not be stopped its my opinion that the majority of Iranians want reform. People power can be powerful. Iran is blaming foreign support for pushing Iran nearer too a revolution and civil war. They are getting very edgy about this seemingly very scared its getting out of hand.
at 18:58 on July 21st, 2009
People power can work only if the government is weak or unwilling to use force.
The Iran government ios strong and will use all force to maintain control.