Reports
of the impending execution of five members of
the Arab Ahwazi minority in Iran prompted
Federal Government Human Rights Commissioner
Markus Löning to issue the following statement
today (24 January):
“I am extremely troubled by the impending
execution of five members of the Arab Ahwazi
minority in Iran.
The trial that led to these death sentences
lacked transparency. Now the Supreme Court has
nonetheless confirmed these dubious sentences.
This runs contrary to the principles of the rule
of law. It is completely unacceptable and
displays a disregard for human dignity.
It is utterly unacceptable to put people on
trial for peacefully advocating for cultural
rights and political participation in the first
place. In doing so, Iran’s judicial system is in
breach of international law and Iran’s own
constitution.
Iran must protect the rights of its citizens,
not oppress them.
I call on Iran to overturn the death penalties
and release the sentenced individuals
immediately. Iran must respect the human rights
of its citizens regardless of their ethnic or
religious affiliation.”
Background:
The
Arab Ahwazi minority in Iran are subject to
marginalization and discrimination with respect
to education, jobs, suitable accommodation,
political participation and cultural rights.
Ahwazi Arabs are regularly given death sentences
or long prison terms by Iran’s judicial
authorities for standing up for cultural rights
and political participation. Most of the Ahwazi
Arabs live in south western Iran. They are on
the whole Shiite Muslims, although some have
become Sunnis.
Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka,
Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri
and Hadi Rashidi, all members of an Arab
cultural institute in Ramshir, were arrested in
2011 by Iranian security forces in advance of
the anniversary of the 2005 Ahwazi Arab
protests. In July 2012, the Revolutionary Court
in Ahwaz found them guilty of the crimes of
“enmity against God and corruption on earth”,
“conspiring to commit a crime against national
security” and “spreading propaganda against the
system”. They were sentenced to death. After the
Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences,
they were handed over to the authority
responsible for enforcement, so that the death
sentences may now be carried out at any time. On
18 January, relatives of the five men were
informed by prison authorities that the men had
been transferred from Karoun Prison to an
unknown location.
«» Source:http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2013/130124-MRHH_Iran.html?nn=479796
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