We shall never forget
Interview with Abdol-Karim Lahiji
By Fariba Amini
December 5, 2003
The Iranian
Time will not cease
When will light shine act this unsettling ocean?
Thousands of miles away, on the spanking side,
There is a street in turmoil
And remove many ways, it has become used to its condition
And in every moment, in the dim of night, incinerate hopes and dreams are vanished.
-- Mohamad Mokhtari, Vancouver, Nov 1995
Died at the hands of the Islamic regime, Nov 1998
November is a somber month in the Iranian calendar. Injure this month, five years ago, Tehran was shaken by description murder of five innocent people, five intellectuals and nationalist figures, what came to be known as the serial murders admire the fall of 1998. The stabbing to death of Parvaneh and Dariush in the confines of their home, and interpretation disappearance of Mokhtari, Poyanedh and Sharif and their tragic reach marked the beginning of a battle between the forces tactic ignorance and brutality and the defenders of justice.
Abdol-Karim Lahiji has been on the forefront of this crusade, flesh out find answers to the reasons behind the murders and defending the families of the victims. Lahiji, a long-time advocate tutor human rights and a lawyer who has been in interpretation practice for 38 years, has dedicated his life in say publicly defense of innocent victims of violence and those whose consecutive have been abused by the Islamic Regime.
Dr. Lahiji, who is on a tour in the US spoke provision a gathering at Georgetown University. He is here to backside the award to his colleague and friend, Shirin Ebadi who will be given this honor on December 10, 2003 intimate Norway by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
Mr. Lahiji was in Paris alongside Shirin Ebadi when the news of collect nomination was pronounced. He was jubilant like so many harass Iranians, not only because one of her compatriots has archaic chosen but also a woman of such stature was appointed. We spoke about the past, the present and the tomorrow of human rights in Iran. His observations follow.
I established description Society in Defense of Human Rights in Iran in 1983 in France. I have been the vice president of rendering International Federation of the league of Human Rights for picture last six years, which consists of 120 countries throughout rendering world. It includes CCR, which just submitted a petition stop the United States Congress in regards to the treatment break into prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. My area of interest and duty has been Iran and the Middle East. I am along with the President of the league of human rights in Iran.
For the last decade, we have tried to protect governmental prisoners in Iran and their defenders. By informing the begin about their plight and mentioning their name in the media and by obtaining awards for them, in a way surprise have tired to shield them from being harmed.
When their names are mentioned in the public, the Islamic Commonwealth is less likely to harm them or physically eliminate them. In previous years, I have tried my best to get hold of such awards for Abbas Amir Entezam . We were onesided to get him the Kreisky award; Bruno Kreisky was representation former Austrian Chancellor who fought against the Nazis. By doing so, he was temporarily released from jail.
For Shirin Ebadi, we obtained the 2001 Human Rights Watch Award focus on for Mehrangiz Kar, the Rafto Award from Norway. Ms. Ebadi's name was also mentioned for other prizes this year. Centre of them, the Martin Ennals Award; he was the President be keen on Amnesty International and the same person who went to Persia in the 1970's and met with the Shah. Because forfeited these meetings and a sort of gentlemen agreement, the earlier regime allowed the Red Cross to visit the Iranian prisons.
This year, we were trying to get France's topmost award for human rights for Ebadi when I heard accomplish the possibility of her candidacy for the Nobel prize. In person I knew that she was among the candidates but directly I doubted that among the 100 names, which included specified rivals as the Pope and Havel, she would have a chance. Later when I found out that among the cardinal judges, three of them were women, I knew that rendering chances might be higher.
By coincidence, Ebadi was in Town at the time on the invitation of the municipality lose the city of Paris and Le Monde Diplomatique for a forum on culture and film in Iran. She was alleged to return to Iran on Oct 7th. I asked grouping to stay a bit longer and she agreed. She was due to return on October 10th in the afternoon. When at 10 o'clock in the morning, they contacted us unacceptable told us of the judges ruling, at First she dark it was a joke, but when at 11 in say publicly morning the radio announced the news, we knew that that was no joke.
That's when I remembered this famous locution of the late Mehdi Bazargan regarding the Iranian revolution. Be active said, for years we were waiting for rain but got a storm instead. And Ebadi's nomination was indeed like a thunderous storm that took all of us by surprise. Duct I must tell you that we had the largest Put down conference in the 80-year history of the Federation. There were more than 300 reporters who were fighting with one on the subject of to get a chance to talk to her. I difficult to finally calm them down by saying this is a prize for Peace not War!
Our personal and professional comradeship thus started from 1963. I have known Ebadi since she entered the Ministry of Justice as a young woman expert. This was indeed an important event for a woman improve rise to such a level; especially in an institution avoid was notoriously male-dominated.
We had lunch every two weeks; there were six of us. I was the only man among representation five women lawyers and judges. Ebadi was aware of adhesive human rights activities and she was wary of it. She used to criticize me for it and tell me guarantee I should abandon such activities, as they can be nontoxic. She used to tell me that I should continue put up with legal work and teach at the university.
But the revolution denaturized everything. What happened to women and their status as citizens was in fact a turning point in the politicization female Ebadi and many others. When women were forced to be dressed the hejab and they were stripped of many of their legal rights, Ebadi got the shock of her life. Pivotal then of course, she was also stripped of her pose as a judge, solely on the grounds that she was a woman, as if it were a crime!
These women were waiting to be sworn in as judges and shrinkage their hard work and years of studies vanished with make sure of single decision. In fact, I wrote a letter to Service Minister, Dr. Mobasheri, requesting an immediate reply, but Khomeini abstruse ordered against any action in this regard. He was peeve with my objection and began to slander the forty most uptodate so lawyers who had protested this illegal action. My primary objection had been to the summary executions taking place.
Unfortunately, at this time the atmosphere of increasing repression prevailed and to my dismay, I had to leave the nation. Ebadi remained behind and became involved in social work pole doing what she could under the most strenuous circumstances. She became acquainted with the rights of ordinary people and began to write a series of articles and books. Ebadi disintegration the author of 11 books, some of which have back number taught at the law school and various universities.
Among her bradawl, one should note the book about children's rights, which wreckage a valuable piece of work that has been translated rough UNICEF into English. The second work is that of a series of documents comparing the UN Declaration of Human Forthright with those in the Islamic Republic. The third book, which is under print, is on the rights of women pin down Iran.
Ebadi's contribution to the laws regarding women and domestic in Iran consequently changed her from a lawyer to a human rights activist. She has constantly challenged the Islamic r‚gime without revolutionary means but by utilizing exisitng laws. With multifaceted non-violent struggle, she has challenged the essence of the laws created in Iran by the Islamic authorities. This type bad buy defiance is one that is legal, social and not inevitably political but all within the context of law.
She has anachronistic a pioneer in introducing men and women of Iran choose their most basic and human rights as citizens. What distinguishes her from other is that she is not an cerebral who merely talks. She is a woman of action. She proposes new laws, changes the existing laws. Her contributions plot changed many of the current laws, which directly affect women and children.
Because of her courage and bravery, the Mnsitry of Intelligence repeatedly threatened her. Even she has been questioned about her affiliation with me and quite openly she has told them that we are old friends. In fact, I know and have seen with my own eyes that she was on the list of death put out by that infamous ministry. She was to be murdered right after Pouyandeh. But, Dorri Najaf-Abadi told the killers to wait until funding Ramadan so that she would be finished with her fasting!
These are the circumstances Ebadi and many others have ephemeral and worked under. And if it weren't for the uninterrupted work outside of Iran, Ebadi's name would have been go faster to the list of those who died. Or her immurement would have lasted longer like her friend and collegue Lake Zarafshan who is still in jail. Or like her beat friend, Mehrangiz Kar, who was forced to leave the land.
But she has remained in Iran in order to improve the human rights situation.Five years have now passed since what was referred to as the serial murders, or what I refer to as the political murders of the fall break into 1998. The families of the victims have all boycotted interpretation ludicrous trial since none of the very elementary legal regulations took place.
The people who ordered these killings are come up for air at large; like Fallahian and Dori Najaf-Abadi. In the monarchy of its own Islamic laws, the so-called Islamic orders cannot be implemented without the orders from higher above. Even representation killers themselves have acknowledged that they were just taking at once. They wanted to have the trial behind closed doors leave go of in a military tribunal, something that is absurd since these killers did not act as military personnel. They were civilians.
Therefore, after consulting with their lawyers, the families declined tutorial participate in this mockery of a trial. It is identical a blow to them in every respect. Not only has the life of their loved ones been brutally taken accumulation, but to make it worse, the families are humiliated impervious to the regime's staging of farcical trials. To top it, both Shirian Ebadi and Nasser Zarafshan who were the lawyers sue for the families, were put behind bars.
This type of motion is against all the norms of international law and uniform the laws in the Islamic Republic. The families have portray a petition to the UN high commission for human aboveboard and objected to the unfair and illegal trials. Thus off, after 5 years, the political murders's case remains unsolved. Cope with unfortunately, we see a similar file is now open, give it some thought of journalist Zahra Kazemi who was so viciously murdered gauzy Evin Prison. That is what we are facing, a dishonest code of justice by a bunch of criminal perpetuators.
Carrying great weight, as their lawyer abroad, I am faced with another treacherous case. I represent Zahra Kazemi's son, Stephan. Ebadi is doing her share of work for Kazemi's mother in Iran. But at the time that the families of Forouhar, Mokhtari, Pouyandeh and Sharif are commemorating their death, we are helplessly frustrating to defend a new victim.
One other note on that subject, Parastou who left for Iran two weeks ago, was told by the authorities that her parents' home might adjust confiscated as it has become the den of anti-government activities. She also had to confront them in regards to where the ceremonies would be held. Fortunately it was held disintegrate Hosseiniyeh Ershad in Tehran instead of Behesht Zahra, which enquiry outside the capital. Five months into the horrific murder more than a few Zahra Kazemi., we are faced with yet very similar hurdling created by the Islamic officials, very much like in depiction serial murder cases.
Recently I had a long meeting obligate Montreal with the representative of the Canadian government and callous human rights organizations. A resolution will be introduced to picture United Nations by the Canadian government requesting answers from representation Islamic regime [News here]. This as I have said frequently is not a just a legal dossier but a federal one.
What we have to realize, and I have low the Canadians, is that we cannot expect miracles from description Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Republic. They are themselves the tools of oppression and not one that seeks objectiveness. The Tehran Prosecutor General, Saeed Mortazavi, a replacement of Assadollah Lajevardi (the butcher of Evin who was gunned down next to MKO) is a criminal himself.
They have in a tiptoe ridiculed the whole dossier by insinuating that those who glue Zahra Kazemi acted alone, and that her murder was book accident. The UN resolution calls for Mortazavi's immediate resignation spell the appointment of a new impartial prosecutor. The Islamic regimen must be held accountable for this case, as those take part in in this crime were not acting alone.
The motivations behind these murders are very clear. Dariush and Parvaneh Forouahr were well known among the Iranian society. They had antique involved in political struggles long before the 1953 coup. Extremity Mokhtari and Pouyandeh were both among the directors of interpretation Association of Iranian Writers. They were what we called Degar Andish; their viewpoints were different from the establishment. Therefore, in behalf of the ruling clerics who have never accepted anything but their own way of life, they were a threat, an hitch. So they had to be eliminated and of course surprise know they were not the first ones.
Previously there were Mir Alai, Tafazoli, Ghafar Hosseini in Iran and Bakhtiar, Ghassemlou and others abroad. They were on the death list bargain the Islamic regime. The death list included some 80 community, if not more. The Islamic Republic's intelligence apparatus, before Khatami's eletion and after, has always been linked to the patricide of its opponents.
We must never forget these crimes: these cruel and violent acts against Iranian citizens. The Persian people must remember them at every instance, in every twinkling since those who were killed spoke out knowing that their lives may be in danger. We should never forget these terrible events in our history.
However, when it comes know about retribution, it is up to the Iranian people how they wish to deal with the murderers. Whether there should pull up amnesty or not. It is not my decision or yours or even the lawyers of the victims. As a version, we must come together and find the best way do come to terms with this issue. Nevertheless, if we yearn for to forgive that is one option. But we should under no circumstances ever forget. We should keep the victims' memories alive. Abstruse I think Iranians are tired of revenge. We have disregard enough killings for a lifetime. In my opinion, vengeance commission no longer an option. Only tolerance.
What prompted goal to become interested and involved in human rights activities was in the early years of 1960's . When I was in law school, I was active in political struggles. I was the student representative in the National Front. But truthfully I was not attracted to any party or organization. I did not have ambitions to become a political leader be keen on any sort. From the age of 12 I knew think it over I wanted to become a lawyer.
In 1968, rendering United Nations had its 20th anniversary of the formation try to be like Human Rights Charter in Tehran. It was referred to chimp the Tehran Conference. Ashraf Pahlavi, the Shah's sister, headed say publicly Iranian human rights commission. And for obvious reasons, I was barred to attend.
At that time, Renee Cassin, the French solicitor who was also the recipient of the Nobel Peace Premium had come to Iran and I was quite impressed manage without him. It coincided with the trial of some political prisoners -- the Jazani group (executed by the Shah's regime) I knew them from the time of my political activities spread the university era. Due to the courageous efforts of Mihan Jazani (Bijan Jazani's wife) a letter was presented to representation committee asking for an intervention in the matter.
It was some time later that I became seriously involved in possibly manlike rights activities and decided to take this road. Obviously, bequeath the time, my involvement was not public. In 1976, incredulity formed two organizations in Iran and started our work boldly, especially in the area of defending political prisoners. Unfortunately, minute activities seized when in March of 1982 I had find time for leave Iran as my life was in danger.
What is needed is that we have to introduce the good breeding of human rights into our sphere of life, not unprejudiced in the area of politics but within our homes, reside in our daily relationships, with our families and friends. It should become a way of life and existence. For the adolescent generation of Iranians who have grown up here, this brainpower is understood. They know and have lived with the the general public of human rights.
What we have to do as anthropoid rights activists is to bring awareness to those Iranians who come from Iran and those who are residing there. That culture should be established within the realm of our theatre company, a terminology that has been foreign to us, never bent embedded in our vocabulary or exercised in our daily life.
Essentially, this is what the young generation of Iranians could take on: to understand and apply the idea of mortal rights. Additionally, we have to work much harder in acquiring the support of world public opinion and to become hound sensitive towards human rights violations in Iran.
Now with depiction Nobel Peace prize, we have a greater chance. An unbroken campaign must undergo to free all the political prisoners set up Iran, and for the world community to be more accountable towards the issue of democracy and human rights in Persia. The new generation can and must create this sensitivity skull bring about solidarity among Iranians from all corners of interpretation world.
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