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By Dr. Kamal Sido:
Executions are up 20% under Iran’s ‘President Rohani
Hassan Rohani, President of the Republic of Iran, is acknowledged as a reformer. Many even believe he will open his country. But since his accession to office the number of executions and the amount of human rights abuses has instead increased.
Back in August 2013, when Hassan Rohani was elected as the new President of Iran, people believed that the situation of human rights in the country would improve. It was like a sigh of relief.
But today, after two years of Rohani’s reign, it is obvious that hope is evaporated. For example, the United Nations (UN) said that the number of executions has increased by 20% since August 2013.
By the increasing number of death penalties and the longstanding imprisonment of opposition members, the Iranian Regime has fanned a climate of anxiety. Every Iranian, no matter if Persian, Kurd, Ahwazi, Baloch people, Azerbaijani, Turkmen, Bahá’í or Christian – is supposed to be always aware of the omnipotence of the regime in Tehran. Nobody should dare to challenge the mullahs.
According to the UN, at least 753 people were executed in 2014. 13 of them were even under age.
This year, so in the first three months, at least 252 death penalties were executed. This makes almost three per day! In fact it might be distinctively more, because most of the executions are carried out in secret. In 2014 the Iranian government officially announced only 252 executed capital punishments. Members of ethnic minorities can also be found among the victims of those secret executions. Recently, at the beginning of March, six Kurd were hanged. Not even their lawyers were informed early enough about the executions.
According to human rights activists, at least 895 people are imprisoned in Iran for political reasons. More than one third of the political prisoners are members of religious minorities: 136 prisoners are Bahá’í, 90 are Sunni, 50 are Christian, 19 are dervish Muslim, four are Yarasan and two are Zoroastrian.
Ethnic and religious minorities face a wide range of discrimination. The basis for this maltreatment can be found in the Iranian constitution: Article 4 lies down that each lawful order has to be in agreement with Islamic law. The whole political structure of Iran is based on the Shiite interpretation of the Sharia. That is why every political activity that promotes other religious beliefs or confessions – such as the Bahá’í, dervish, Christians, Yaresan or Sunnis – is regarded as a rejection of Shia-Islam and thus punished as a crime. As a consequence the judges and attorneys of the revolutionary court often justify their sentences by claiming that ‘criminals’ pose a threat to the national security.
Instead of imposing reforms and of opening his country, Rohani choose to worsen the situation of human rights in Iran. Minorities and political activists have to be in fear of their lives and the rest of the population has to live in a climate of anxiety too. A better future, where human rights are respected and minorities have the right to practice their religious belief freely, seems to be a long way away. Hopefully not too long away. Because otherwise, 895 political prisoners might not live to see this better future.
Dr. Kamal Sido – Middle East Department, Society for Threatened Peoples
Human right abuse situation occurs and can be seen in every country in the world.However the degree and methods of human right abuse can differ from one country to the other.
In some countries human right abuse occurs secretly and subtly and away from the eye of public, while in some other countries it occurs more often and explicitly in front of the eye of public.
Iran is one of the countries that has a long history and record of human right abuse ,both implicitly and explicitly.They secretly assassinate important political figures ,such as Dr Qasemlo, Dr Sharafkandi and many other journalists and political prisoners, and beat up people in the streets,arresting them illegally and hanging,them in public.they crush the free voices and demonstrations and deny people the rights to liberties explicitly.
The problem with human right abuse is created by power holders.Usually when the power holders abuse their power and exercise unlimited authority,beyond the boundaries of law principles and democratic values.
The human right abuse usually happens by people whom have backward,dictatorial mentality.People who have no conscience, people who are greedy,arrogant,irresponsible,egocentric, ambitious for power, wealth and fame and name, yet have no sense of humanity,and respect for others.It also happens because of the ideological clashes ,rivalry and differences as each side tries to impose their own agendas and ideologies and also gain more power over the ones who are different than you, for more wealth,and yet for the fear of being dominated and enslaved by your political opponents and opposition.
The formation and implementation of a democratic constitution principles,and the creation of an independent judiciary system can be the best single solution to at least minimize the case of human right abuse,if not eliminate them,in Iran.
I, as Kuvan Bamarny, have become the victum of human right abuse in Iran,Canada and Duhok for years and up to this moment.
Regards
Kuvan Bamarny/Duhok
Same, same, same if not worse and worst.