The Mourning Mothers of Iran have described the death sentences issued for Iranian officials over their role in the torture and killing of three postelection detainees at the Kahrizak detention center as an attempt by the establishment to cover up its crimes and to calm down the families of the victims of the crackdown that followed the disputed reelection of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
"[This is] a scenario to hide the violent and inhumane face of a regime that during its rule executions, killings, torture, jailing, injustice, and systematic abuse of human rights have become one of the main pillars of its dictatorship." say the mothers, adding that the regime wants to keep the main elements of the killings "immune" and prevent more truth from being revealed about the postelection human rights abuses.
Last week, an Iranian military court sentenced two officials to death over their role in the killing of three detainees held at Kahrizak. Nine others have been sentenced to jail. The sentences are not final and can be appealed.
According to Iranian news agencies, including IRNA, the two officials, whose name and ranks have not been revealed, were found guilty of "inflicting intentional abuse leading to the murder of Mohammad Kamrani, Amir Javadifar, and Mohsen Ruholamini."
In a statement issued on their website, the Mourning Mothers of Iran, say that by executing a few people the establishment wants to cover up the real dimension of the crimes committed at Kahrizak and sacrifice "a few puppets" to keep safe those who ordered the killings and human rights abuses.
The mothers call for the creation of a truth-seeking commission in a safe environment and public trials under the watch of human rights activists and Iranian citizens to shed light on the "Kahrizak tragedy" and other "tragedies" that led to the killings of a number of Iranians who took to the streets to protest against the results of last year's presidential vote.
Amnesty International has also reportedly called for "full disclosure" of the investigations into the abuses that were committed at Kahrizak.
"Such a disclosure is essential to ensure that the rights of the victims and their families to truth and justice are upheld," said the London-based rights organization, while calling on Iran to disclose the identity and positions of the defendants and details of their trials.
Many doubt that there will be justice in the case of Kahrizak, where three detainees died as the result of beatings and a number were reportedly tortured and raped.
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has compared the Kahrizak case to other similar cases that have occurred in the Islamic republic in the past, including the chain killings of intellectuals and the case of Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, who died after being jailed and interrogated in Tehran's Evin prison.
Ebadi told Deutsche Welle's Persian Service that "injustice" is the common point of all these cases.
"I personally don't see any justice in this case, it is possible that they have forced some into making false confessions to cover up Kahrizak," Ebadi said.
She added that there wouldn't be any justice without a public trial where witnesses and the families of those killed or tortured can testify and the accused can defend themselves while providing details about their actions.
-- Golnaz Esfandiari
"[This is] a scenario to hide the violent and inhumane face of a regime that during its rule executions, killings, torture, jailing, injustice, and systematic abuse of human rights have become one of the main pillars of its dictatorship." say the mothers, adding that the regime wants to keep the main elements of the killings "immune" and prevent more truth from being revealed about the postelection human rights abuses.
Last week, an Iranian military court sentenced two officials to death over their role in the killing of three detainees held at Kahrizak. Nine others have been sentenced to jail. The sentences are not final and can be appealed.
According to Iranian news agencies, including IRNA, the two officials, whose name and ranks have not been revealed, were found guilty of "inflicting intentional abuse leading to the murder of Mohammad Kamrani, Amir Javadifar, and Mohsen Ruholamini."
In a statement issued on their website, the Mourning Mothers of Iran, say that by executing a few people the establishment wants to cover up the real dimension of the crimes committed at Kahrizak and sacrifice "a few puppets" to keep safe those who ordered the killings and human rights abuses.
The mothers call for the creation of a truth-seeking commission in a safe environment and public trials under the watch of human rights activists and Iranian citizens to shed light on the "Kahrizak tragedy" and other "tragedies" that led to the killings of a number of Iranians who took to the streets to protest against the results of last year's presidential vote.
Amnesty International has also reportedly called for "full disclosure" of the investigations into the abuses that were committed at Kahrizak.
"Such a disclosure is essential to ensure that the rights of the victims and their families to truth and justice are upheld," said the London-based rights organization, while calling on Iran to disclose the identity and positions of the defendants and details of their trials.
Many doubt that there will be justice in the case of Kahrizak, where three detainees died as the result of beatings and a number were reportedly tortured and raped.
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has compared the Kahrizak case to other similar cases that have occurred in the Islamic republic in the past, including the chain killings of intellectuals and the case of Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, who died after being jailed and interrogated in Tehran's Evin prison.
Ebadi told Deutsche Welle's Persian Service that "injustice" is the common point of all these cases.
"I personally don't see any justice in this case, it is possible that they have forced some into making false confessions to cover up Kahrizak," Ebadi said.
She added that there wouldn't be any justice without a public trial where witnesses and the families of those killed or tortured can testify and the accused can defend themselves while providing details about their actions.
-- Golnaz Esfandiari